A tiny grey squirrel has taken the internet by storm after it was caught looking like a rebellious teenager – holding and chewing on a vape!
The shocking yet adorable video was filmed in Brixton, South London. It shows the small squirrel sitting calmly on a wooden fence, gripping a discarded disposable vape with its front paws and nibbling on the mouthpiece. At first glance, it looks exactly like the little animal is taking a puff, just like a teen sneaking a vape. The clip, originally shared by The Telegraph, has exploded online with millions of views in just a few days.
🔥🚨BREAKING: Squirrels have been spotted vaping e-cigarettes due to mistaking their fruity scents for food.
“Eating a vape isn’t part of their natural diet. The components aren’t something they encounter in nature,” said red squirrel expert Craig Shuttleworth.
”You don’t want… pic.twitter.com/brCR34APh4
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) March 24, 2026
People cannot stop reacting. Social media is flooded with funny comments like “Squirrels are vaping before GTA 6!”, “This is nuts!”, and “2026 is officially wild.” Many users turned the moment into hilarious memes, joking that the squirrel is stressed out from city life or starting a new trend.
But wildlife experts are not laughing. They say the squirrel was not actually vaping or addicted to nicotine. It was simply attracted by the strong sweet, fruity smell of the vape liquid. Modern disposable vapes often smell like candy, mango, strawberry, or bubblegum – which smells like tasty food to a curious squirrel with a powerful sense of smell.
However, this cute video hides a serious danger. If animals chew on vapes, they can swallow harmful nicotine, toxic battery chemicals, and tiny pieces of plastic. This can make them very sick or even cause death. The RSPCA called it a “stark reminder” of how carelessly thrown litter can hurt wildlife.
The viral sensation has sparked two kinds of reactions: pure laughter from some, and genuine worry from others. Many people are now urging everyone to properly throw away vapes and trash so that no more animals mistake them for snacks.
Who would have thought a small squirrel could create such a big buzz? This funny-yet-worrying clip is a wake-up call wrapped in cuteness – proof that even tiny mistakes by humans can affect nature in surprising ways.