This more than straightforward comment on Reddit exposes how absurd a moment can become when humans refuse to take responsibility, yet also opens up a completely new level of discomfort. 

A seemingly goofy internet fad of squirrels “vaping” from e-cigarettes actually reflects severe human disregard for our planet, how we consume and produce, as well as serve as a cautionary tale regarding unintended environmental destruction.

People who call it “cute,” please contact Oxford Dictionary! Because cute is not equal to life threatening in any language, brother (crying emojis). 

Squirrels “Vaping” Viral Video Sparks Concern Over Wildlife And Vape Waste

From London to Philadelphia, videos on social media are emerging showing squirrels sitting with e-cigarettes in their paws. Some appear to even be chewing on them and inhaling from them! Social media has now turned the incident into a viral aesthetic, SIGH. When will the Internet grow up? 

However, outside of their virality, there is also growing concern amongst wildlife specialists regarding the potential negative impacts on the environment of this trend.

Why Squirrels Are Chewing Vape Devices And Not Actually Vaping

Let’s start with one important note, squirrels are NOT purposely vaping! What they ARE doing is even more disturbing.

According to multiple outlets such as NDTV and The New York Post, wildlife authorities claim that the e-cigarette is attracting squirrels due to their sweet and fruity aroma (which is intended to be appealing to us!) And that the animals mistake the vapour for real food. 

According to Craig Shuttleworth, a red squirrel expert from Bangor University in Wales, nicotine likely does not attract squirrels; rather, the sweet aroma from the flavoured vapours are what attract them to chew on the e-cigarettes.

Historically speaking, while cigarette butts have been a popular urban form of litter, squirrels do not often react to them. Conversely, because of the sweet aromatic nature of the vapours from e-cigarettes, it is no surprise that squirrels find these e-cigarettes more appealing than the regular ones. 

Once they were attracted, the squirrels started chewing on the e-cigarette vapours (at which point the harm starts). 

Nicotine Toxicity And Microplastics: How Vape Devices Harm Animal Health

Nicotine is the first neurotoxin found in vape devices. It, even in small, concentrated amounts in vape devices can have devastating effects on animals’ behavior, nervous systems, and ultimately can lead to their death! 

Yes, it’s no joke! 

Microplastics are an insidious form of waste found in vape devices. The plastics used to create vape devices are casing, internal components, and chemical residues. When animals gnaw at randomly discarded vape devices, they consume microplastic particles that can accumulate in their body over time.

Experts warn about the various problems encountered with the exposure of nicotine and microplastic waste. Many have pointed out that long-term studies show the kind of impact these two toxic substances will have on wildlife (e.g., digestive problems, reproduction issues, health problems).

As noted by one wildlife expert, “They don’t encounter nicotine in the wild, so like many chemicals, it’s something you don’t want them exposed to.”

RSPCA And Wildlife Experts Warn About The Impact Of Discarded E-Cigarettes

Now, the most troubling part…yes, we have not covered it YET! 

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), these occurrences illustrate the dangers of littering, reminding everyone about its impact on wildlife, and there are increasingly numerous amounts of evidence supporting their ideas.

For example, RSPCA Scientific Officer Evie Button referenced an incident involving a bird in New Zealand that died after eating a vape device. RSPCA has also received numerous reports of squirrels trying to bury vape devices, similar to food items.

Ultimately, these issues affect wildlife and ARE NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM.The Veterinary Poisoning Information Service has reported on 680 incidents of vape-related exposure involving companion animals since 2017. Dogs represented over 96% of those cases! 

These figures paint a picture of a potentially larger environmental hazard that is not being appropriately reported.

The Disposable Vape Dilemma

This issue has more to do with a larger systemic concern and that is….DRUMROLLLLL…the uptick in disposable vaping.

In places like the UK, which has implemented vaping bans on single-use vape devices, there are still loopholes being used by manufacturers to allow single-use vapes to remain available to the public. Some manufacturers are circumventing the ban by redesigning their products with USB charging ports and/or refillable pods so that they can be marketed as being reusable, but in reality contribute to litter.

Before the introduction of regulatory measures, 5 million disposable vapes were reportedly disposed of each week. This is more than just a waste management problem; it is a damaging environmental issue atp. 

After becoming litter, these devices are frequently discarded in public spaces (like streets and parks) or in natural environments, which subsequently exposes animals to them. Unlike bio-degradable refuse, e-vapes do not decompose in the environment and therefore increase the chances that animals will come into contact with them.

Viral Reactions To Squirrels “Vaping” Highlight Public Concern And Apathy

There was a viral video featuring a grey squirrel in Brixton, South London who was filmed with an e-cigarette in its mouth and was continuously nibbling on it. 

And to say the least…it was hard to watch. 

Some of those who viewed the video expressed legitimate concern for the squirrel, while others turned to dark humor. 

On Reddit, one user commented that they have seen “some of the most crazy news stories over the years,” and another highlighted the obsession with squirrels as a new hobby and their usual tendency to make jokes about all kinds of things, but this time it is just plain sad! 

But if you dig deeper below the surface, you see an unsettling theme to this story; littering and indifference to our environment are where we stand out as humans and how we affect our ecosystem. 

The answer to this issue is really very simple, take responsibility for how and where you dispose of your waste! 

Experts recommend that anyone who has a vape should hold on to it until they can use a recycling bin for its disposal. This may seem small, but if enough people dispose of waste in a proper manner, it will have a HUGE impact on our wildlife and we will be contributing to the overall wellness of our communities.

Public education on this topic is also very important to the future of wildlife, and if people learn now/to think about how one item can affect our wildlife habitat, there will be a higher chance that individuals will change their behavior.