I've been told to stop feeding squirrels or I could be evicted

[Bfstlove]

Maybe you should phase out feeding them.
But I am sure that sometimes people drop a package, or leave a coffee cup, or sit down outside to finish a potato chip snack, or just to chat on the phone.
All those containers/cups could have some foodstuffs for the squirrels in them.
On a sunny day, or a rainy day you could also likely be using an umbrella or parasol.
Point being that possibly some of those ( umbrella/bag, clothing, etc. ) could mask your food delivery.

But they seem to have been OK before you, and due to various dangers you mention both to you and them... phasing out over a period of a few weeks seems sensible...

I have often allowed a squirrel to come inside... don't know if that is possible for you. I have built entry tube/chute for them, and even weatherproofed it for myself in the winter. But every feature has it's risk. Sweety, one of my regular visitors, introduced to me by her mommy, and the mother of Tipsy a neuro who I rescued and loved for many years. Anyway, Sweety, was after about 3.5 years, grabbed by a huge cat, waiting for her many regular like timework daily visit here. So a predictable foraging path, to a destination someone can be cornered in, is a concern.

You have made a difference, and possibly now could be a time for you to ease up on the stress you are experiencing.

MAYBE talk to the powers that be, and ask them to just let you phase out the feeding over the next three weeks, present it as away to avoid the squirrels chewing the property out of frustration of sudden change.

Thank you so much for these suggestions!

I have been filling my pockets with nuts every time I leave home and dropping them discreetly - not a lot so as not to attract the block party again, but I try to leave at least a few by the fence where Chewy seems to come from and take off to most but I definitely will use some of your much more creative ideas for food delivery!

I so wish I could let Chewy in and keep him or at least take care of him for a while. Something seems off with him. It was obvious that it was taking him some time to eat a single wall nut, often tilting his head back and turning the nut in circles but not seeming to make a dent in it. He does have a slight curve to his walk as well but despite that I have also watched him give a good chase to squirrels that have shown up after him when he was eating. But on some days it seems he makes a true effort to come when others are not around as he was also chased away. I have noticed a difference in how fast he eats since choosing pecans (over the harder walnuts for him) and boiling them to soften and coating them in coconut oil. His fur is also looking much better as well. I had another squirrel I called Lefty as he appeared with a totally clouded eye one day. He would always come alone as I'm sure he felt quite vulnerable. But he also really took to the coconut oil nuts and within a few weeks his eye was no longer cloudy and I saw him today and it looks almost totally healed!

Anyway, that whole tangent above was to say I so wish I had the kind of set up that would allow me to bring them in and care for them. What you described (aside from what happened to poor Sweety) sounds so wonderful! I will keep that in mind for when I have a home with more space and privacy. The way I am set up right now is I am in a ground floor unit of a 4 story building...no balcony - I face the small parking lot and as I am a corner unit to the right of my unit is the small driveway for cars to enter and to the right of that alleyway begin a series of residential homes with fairly large back yards.

I went to the the little parkette close by (2 min walk) today to really pay attention to the squirrel action and I really saw how much abundance they are surrounded by. Most homes have small sheds and big old trees. The parkette is new but they have planted some trees and there are many low bushes where I noticed many squirrels foraging. There are also some concrete tables where people sit and I am sure drop lots of food. In fact when I first sat down earlier in the morning I was approached by a few squirrels that jumped on the bench with me!

So I'm not really worried about them - as you mentioned they were ok before they found me. And taking into consideration what you said about a predictable trail and what happened with Sweety (I'm so sorry you experienced that) - I think I will just make daily visits to the park and make food donations to the bushes and under some of the residential old trees around it for the gang and unless I see Chewy in the park I will use all creative suggestions to make sure he gets fed. He seems to gave caught on that when he sees me at the window I used to feed him at, shortly after I come out the side door of the building that opens to the alleyway and discreetly drop a few nuts for him by the house beside it. Its not the best spot but its actually safer than where he was eating before as there is a fence and backyard right there that he can escape to quickly if need be. My hope is that one day I see him in the park How lovely it would be to see all my sweet friends in a safe and much more relaxing atmosphere.

I also like what you said in regards to what to say to the management. I'm going to use that word for word. Thank you!

[BigNibbler]

Hope you and the squirrels are coping OK.