THIS is the moment a squirrel appears to vape in a park – with experts warning wildlife are drawn to “fruity” e-cigs.
The footage shows a grey squirrel holding the device between its paws and chewing on the mouthpiece on a fence in Brixton, .
The moment a squirrel is seen “vaping” in a London parkCredit: Telegraph/Supplied
An RSPCA spokesperson said the sight of the squirrel with the disposable vape is a “stark reminder” to the dangers of littering to our wildlife.
They continued: “Sadly this is the tip of the iceberg – as five million single-use were thrown away every week according to research prior to a Government ban on their sale.
“Many of them end up as litter in our environment, our rivers and the ocean where they can cause harm to animals and marine life.
“These vapes contain materials and poisonous substances which can be hazardous to animals including plastic, lithium and nicotine.”
Craig Shuttleworth – a red squirrel expert at Bangor University – told The Telegraph the animal was most likely drawn to the vape’s “fruity” flavour.
He said: “In the old days, you’d see lots of discarded cigarette butts, but I don’t remember squirrels running around with them.
“It would be reasonable to assume that a vape would be more attractive than a normal tobacco product that’s not fruity.”
“Eating a vape isn’t part of their natural diet. The components aren’t something they encounter in nature.”
The nationwide ban on disposable vapes kicked in June last year, but manufacturers redesigned the e-cigs with a USB slot to meet rechargable requirements.
National reported around 1.3million disposable e-cigarettes are thrown away each week in the UK – meaning more than 67million vapes are discarded each year.
Experts say the animal was attracted to the “fruity” deviceCredit: Telegraph/Supplied
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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