'Vaping Squirrels' in London and Philadelphia Go Viral: Here's Why They Are Drawn to E-Cigs

Social media feeds have been flooded this week by footage of what appears to be nature's newest, and most concerning, trend: 'vaping squirrels.' Videos originating from Brixton in south London and Philadelphia in the United States have shown these rodents 'munching' the disposable e-cigarettes rather than actually inhaling and puffing them.

While the clips have garnered millions of views, baffling and amazing people at the same time, wildlife experts are raising the alarm. They warn that these viral videos actually document the severe danger these littered vapes pose to wildlife. Here is the reason squirrels are drawn to e-cigarettes.

'Vaping Squirrels' Spotted

Photos and videos of 'vaping squirrels' have gone viral online. TikTok user TT'S TIKTOK (@tts_tiktok22) shared a video of a squirrel in South Philadelphia gnawing of what it appears to be a disposable e-cigarette.

In the video, she said, 'Mom, there is a squirrel in your yard, smoking your jull. Mom, I swear to God, get the f*ck over here!'

A separate TikTok video posted by Carly.Danee (@carly.dane) shows another squirrel atop a fence holding the vape with its front paws, and appeared to be nibbling on the plastic mouthpiece of the disposable e-cigarette.

Meanwhile, The Telegraph also reported and obtained a video that shows a grey squirrel perched on a wooden fence in Brixton, south London, handling an e-cigarette. A screenshot from the video was also posted on Facebook by Dean Barr.

On their Facebook page, RSPCA (England & Wales) also posted a photo of a squirrel holding a vape. The videos and photos shared on the internet garnered mixed reactions from the netizens, both amazed and baffled by the scene.

Why Are Squirrels Drawn to E-Cigarettes

Speaking with The Telegraph, Craig Shuttleworth, a red squirrel expert at Bangor University, said that the rodents are probably attracted to the 'fruity flavour' of the vapes.

This was echoed by Kay Haw, director of the UK Squirrel Accord, who told the Daily Mail: 'I imagine the squirrel is interested in the vape liquid inside, which is exuding an odour and attracting it. The squirrel can smell the liquid and likely thinks it is a food source, so is trying to find a way into the vape'.

This theory by Haw was verified by a scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Evie Button, who dissected a disposable vape.

She said, 'The other noticeable thing about the vapes I've picked up is the strong smell, even long after they've been used,' she explained in a blog for Wildlife and Countryside Link.

'The one I took apart still smells strongly of blueberry, over three months since I picked it up. We're worried that animals could be attracted to the smells and, mistaking them for food, try to bite or swallow them,' she added.

Experts Worry Squirrels Consume Nicotine from the Vapes

Experts said that they are unsure if the squirrels are simply biting the plastic or actually consuming the vape liquid.

'Eating a vape isn't part of their natural diet. The components aren't something they encounter in nature,' Shuttleworth said. 'They could gnaw at it and consume some of the microplastics'.

He added, 'In the old days, you'd see lots of discarded cigarette butts, but I don't remember squirrels running around with them'.

Shuttleworth emphasised: 'You don't want animals ingesting nicotine. They don't encounter nicotine in the wild, so like many chemicals, it's something you don't want them exposed to'.

Birds and Pets Also Drawn to Vape

However, squirrels are not the only animals drawn to the fruity smell of the vape. The Daily Mail reported that birds and pets are also interacting with the disposable e-cigarettes.

Button explained: 'So far, we've heard about a bird in New Zealand who was poisoned and died after swallowing a vape, and we've seen pictures of a squirrel in Wales trying to bury a vape'.

'But we know that this will only be the tip of the iceberg as so many litter casualties go unseen and unreported, particularly with wildlife,' she said.

Button also shared that dogs fall victim to vapes, 'We know that dogs in particular have heightened sensitivity to sweet tastes and smells, and they could easily sniff them out on a dog walk'.

'The Veterinary Poisons Information Service has received 680 calls about pets and vape liquids since 2017, and 96 per cent of these were about dogs,' she said.

Button also shared some unfortunate information. She said that there have been reports of pets dying from consuming vape liquids, as ingesting 'high doses of the nicotine–based liquid' could lead to serious illness.

'Stark Reminder' of the Danger Litter Poses for Wildlife

The RSPCA said the video served as a stark reminder of the 'danger discarded litter poses to our wildlife.'

'Sadly, this is the tip of the iceberg – as five million single-use e-cigarettes were thrown away every week, according to research, prior to a government ban on their sale. These vapes contain materials and poisonous substances which can be hazardous to animals including plastic, lithium and nicotine,' a spokesperson said.

The organisation urged people to 'hold on to their litter until there's an opportunity to dispose of it safely and responsibly – and to always recycle where appropriate, so we can reduce the number of animal casualties we see impacted by rubbish.'