Viral 'Vaping' Squirrel Sparks Outrage, Reveals Dangers of Discarded E-Cigarettes

• A viral video shows a squirrel in Brixton, South London, appearing to 'vape' an e-cigarette, causing amusement and alarm.
• Wildlife experts explain the squirrel was likely attracted by the sweet, fruity smell of the vape, mistaking it for food, not seeking nicotine.
• Chewing on discarded vapes poses severe risks to animals, including ingesting toxic nicotine, microplastics, battery chemicals, and other harmful substances.
• The incident highlights the dangers of litter for wildlife, with millions of single-use e-cigarettes discarded weekly before regulatory crackdowns.
• RSPCA reports previous cases of animals, including a bird and numerous pets, falling victim to vape waste, calling it the 'tip of the iceberg'.