2026-03-26 13:23:18

Wildlife experts are urging the public to stop dumping nicotine products after a squirrel was filmed appearing to “vape” in a London park.

The bizarre clip, shared with The Telegraph, shows a grey squirrel perched on a fence in Brixton while nibbling at the mouthpiece of a discarded vape.

The animal paws at the device as if trying to take a puff — a scene that has quickly joined a growing collection of viral videos showing squirrels chewing, carrying and even “shopping” for abandoned vapes in both the UK and the US.

Craig Shuttleworth, a red squirrel specialist at Bangor University, said the fruity liquids inside the devices are likely what’s drawing the animals in.

He explained: “A vape would be more attractive than a normal tobacco product that’s not fruity.

Shuttleworth warned: “You don’t want animals ingesting nicotine. They don’t encounter it in the wild.”

He added that the dangers go beyond nicotine exposure: “Eating a vape isn’t part of their natural diet. They could gnaw at it and consume microplastics.”

The RSPCA — which previously warned about the rise of vape‑related wildlife injuries — said the latest video should serve as a reminder to dispose of devices properly.

A spokesperson for the animal welfare charity said: “We urge people to hold on to their litter until it can be safely and responsibly thrown away.

“Recycling where possible helps reduce the number of animals harmed by rubbish.”

With vape waste now turning urban wildlife into accidental influencers, experts say the message is simple: bin it, don’t leave it for the squirrels.

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