not sure what is going on.....over the past couple of weeks has become remarkably interested in food prep. Not the food, just the prep. Much different behaviour when he wants the food.
I buy bags of peanuts to feed the squirrels around my apartment. The neighbors don't like it so much, but it amuses me to do so. They are waiting in the tree every morning for me.
You should avoid peanuts when feeding squirrels because they mold easily.
So sorry to hear the sad news.
They are gone within minutes. I put out about a cup a day in the morning.
That is not the point. Squirrels don't eat them all straight away but bury the nuts as a supply. And peanuts then rot very quickly.