This Morning I Thought I Saw A Giant Rat On One Of My Bird Feeders.

[sandyRoe]

When it moved I saw it's tail and realised it was actually a dark furred squirrel.  

That's the first one I've seen in my garden in all the years I've been here.

Is food getting scarcer for them as we move towards Winter?

[barry1010]

They are a flipping nuisance in my garden, running off with fat balls and scoffing everything. I dread to think how much I've spent on squirrel proof feeders and stands over the years.

[Barmaid]

Yes, the are collecting their food for the winter.  There were three in our garden this morning.  Although why they need to raid the bird feeders I have no idea - they stripped the walnut and hazelnut trees before we even got a look in.

[roopower]

It's possible food isn't so easy to come by but why work for it when you can raid a bird feeder more easily. We have one that we've seen a couple of times, I hope it doesn't bring friends!

[nicebloke1]

Could be they,ve heard of another lockdown on the way so, raiding the shelves. :0)

[andres]

It might be the first time that you have seen one in your garden  but there will be more of them nearby. 

[Countrylover]

They plant the hazelnuts on the grass in front garden.  I hesitate to call it a lawn!

[Barmaid]

CL - Mr BM found a load of walnuts planted in his greenhouse last spring.  Silly so and sos had obviously thought it was a nice warm place to hide stuff whilst the doors were open until the autumn, but thereafter the doors were closed and remained so.

[Countrylover]

We lived in Letchworth years ago.  The home of  the rare  black Squirrels on Norton Common whic h I walked across every day to get to work.  I expect they have multiplied by now and in a much wider area but the were great to see.  Letchworth was a dry town back then in the 70s, but it's first pub was called The Black Squirrel.

https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/mystery-behind-large-number-black-5432944