A grey squirrel in Brixton, south London, was filmed handling an e-cigarette on a wooden fence, nibbling at the plastic mouthpiece. The footage, obtained by The Telegraph, shows the animal perched and apparently attempting to consume the device. Craig Shuttleworth, a red squirrel expert at Bangor University, suggested the fruity flavors of vapes likely attracted the animal.

Millions of disposable e-cigarettes are discarded weekly in the UK, according to National Recycling, creating hazards for urban wildlife. While disposable vapes were banned in June 2023, manufacturers quickly redesigned products with USB charging slots to circumvent the regulation. The RSPCA emphasized the dangers of discarded vapes, which contain plastic, lithium, and nicotine.

Shuttleworth noted that squirrels don't encounter nicotine in the wild, making such exposure particularly dangerous. The RSPCA urged proper disposal of litter and recycling when possible, stating that five million single-use e-cigarettes were thrown away weekly before the ban. The incident serves as a reminder of how discarded items pose risks to animals seeking food or novel objects in urban environments.