Squirrels Mistakenly “Vaping” E-Cigarettes
Recently, an unusual story emerged as a video surfaced showing a gray squirrel seemingly smoking an e-cigarette in Brixton, a neighborhood in south London. The footage, which gained significant attention online, depicted the squirrel perched on a wooden fence and appearing to nibble on the device’s plastic mouthpiece.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) highlighted the video as a reminder of the dangers that litter poses to wildlife. Each week in the UK, numerous disposable electronic cigarettes are disposed of improperly, creating hazards for urban animals.
Craig Shuttleworth, an expert on red squirrels from Bangor University, noted that the fruity scent of these discarded e-cigarettes attracts squirrels. “Eating e-cigarettes isn’t something they’d naturally do,” he pointed out. “They encounter none of the ingredients in their typical diet—and they might unknowingly chew on the microplastics.”
Shuttleworth observed that while cigarette butts were once a common sight, it seems squirrels weren’t particularly interested in those. “E-cigarettes—with their appealing scents—might be more tempting than traditional tobacco,” he speculated. However, he cautioned against exposing animals to nicotine, which isn’t something they would normally encounter in the wild, highlighting the risks associated with it.
A representative from the RSPCA urged the public to dispose of e-cigarettes responsibly. They emphasized the importance of keeping trash until it can be thrown away properly and encouraged recycling to minimize harm to animals.
As reported by the California Post, this issue extends beyond squirrels, affecting birds as well. An RSPCA science officer shared a concerning story about a bird that died after swallowing an e-cigarette in New Zealand and noted a photo of a squirrel in Wales trying to bury a bird.
This problem also poses risks to pets. The Veterinary Poison Information Service mentioned that since 2017, they’ve received 680 reports of pets involved in vaping incidents, with 96% of these cases involving dogs.
