March 25, 2026
Puff or fluff?
Squirrel seen 'vaping' in London park
From cute squirrel clip to “ban vapes now” outrage, commenters split on what they saw
TLDR: A viral video shows a Brixton squirrel gripping a vape, prompting the RSPCA to warn about litter harming wildlife. Commenters split between “ban disposable vapes now,” “it’s just chewing plastic,” and jokes about a nicotine-addled squirrel—spotlighting waste, loopholes, and why tossed gadgets aren’t just unsightly but dangerous.
A London squirrel got caught on camera clutching an e-cigarette in Brixton—and the internet did what it does best: turned a quirky wildlife moment into a full-on culture war. The RSPCA (the UK’s main animal welfare charity) warned the clip is a stark reminder about litter hurting animals, while an expert said fruity flavors could lure curious critters to gnaw on plastic and even swallow bits. Add in millions of throwaway vapes tossed each week and a messy “ban-but-rebrand” loophole, and you’ve got a perfect storm of eco drama.
Commenters came out swinging. One camp called vapes “the worst thing since cigarettes” and demanded a crackdown, with a top reply simply: ban them. Another group wasn’t buying the “vaping” part at all—“no puff, just play,” they argued, saying the squirrel looked more like it was chewing plastic than chasing a nicotine buzz. Then came the memes: jokes about the squirrel joining the workforce to afford cartridges, or planning a nutty crime spree to fund its “habit.”
Between the laughs, the thread drifted back to the bigger issue: our trash. People shared stories of pets eating cigarette butts, proving animals will go for whatever’s on the ground. Cute video? Sure. But the vibe is clear: from The Telegraph to the RSPCA’s plea (link), the community sees a litter problem that’s anything but adorable.
Key Points
- •A squirrel in Brixton, south London, was filmed handling and nibbling an e-cigarette, footage obtained by The Telegraph.
- •The RSPCA said the video underscores the danger that discarded litter, including vapes, poses to wildlife.
- •Red squirrel expert Craig Shuttleworth suggested fruity flavors may attract animals and warned about microplastics and nicotine exposure.
- •Millions of disposable e-cigarettes are thrown away weekly in the UK, according to National Recycling.
- •Disposable vapes were banned in June last year, but manufacturers redesigned devices with USB slots and secondary pods to be technically rechargeable and reusable.