Is the Video of Flying Squirrel Staging Its Own Death and Crime Scene with Props Fake?

A video of a flying squirrel apparently faking its own death has gone viral on social media, sparking a heated debate among netizens. Scientist says Squirrel on the lower end when it comes to overall intelligence capacity in comparison to other mammals. However, what took place in the viral footage has people wondering if science has been underestimating squirrel intelligence, or if the video is a hoax.

Was the Video of a Flying Squirrel Staging It’s Own Death and Crime Scene Fake?

In the clip the a flying squirrel that is seemingly cornered in a room, then does something very unexpected. The squirrel rolls over on its back, then spreads out its legs like it was just shot, but it didn’t end there. The squirrel also placed a broom over its own body to make it look like it was a crime scene. The funniest part about it was the fact it did all this while the people it was trying to trick were standing right there watching, so it was all just for attention.

Some viewers were amused by the squirrel’s antics, while others were concerned about its well-being. Some even speculated that the squirrel was trained by its owner to perform the stunt. If you look closely in the video you’ll notice what appears to be a cage in the left corner, which could indicate the flying squirrel is a trained pet. Was it a real spur of the moment act, or a hoax that was created through training? Take a look.

According to Dr. Jane Goodall, a renowned primatologist and animal activist, flying squirrels are known to use various strategies to escape from predators, such as gliding, hiding, or freezing. This could indicate that the squirrel in the video might have been startled by something, and instinctively went into a state of tonic immobility, which is a form of animal hypnosis that makes them appear dead.

Regardless of the truth behind the footage, it has many people wanting to adopt a flying squirrel as a pet.