painted squirrels?

THIS IS BAD NEWS - Otis remarked, "No, don't do this!"

Video: Painted Squirrels Perplex Wildlife Officials in Connecticut September 11, 2025 

 By Tim Binnall 

Wildlife officials in Connecticut are hoping to get to the bottom of a peculiar mystery after a resident photographed a pair of colorful squirrels that appeared to have been painted. The curious case reportedly came to light on Monday when East Hartford Animal Control shared pictures of the eye-catching animals on social media. One of the odd animals boasted blue fur, and the other sported a red or pink coating. Indicating that the squirrels' unusual coloring seemed to be unnatural, the department observed that the creatures "appear to be okay, but we are looking to identify who is responsible for this." 

Alas, the call to action from the public has yet to yield any clues as to who might have colored the critters, leaving wildlife officials still scratching their heads. "This is a new one for us," the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesperson James Fowler said, noting that they had never received such a report before. While the case may be unique for the area, it sounds eerily similar to a story from last February wherein a New York State man was busted for spray painting squirrels as part of a bizarre 'tracking' scheme after he grew tired of the animals coming onto his property and bothering his dogs.