Overview

• Photos posted by East Hartford Animal Control show two wild squirrels painted bright blue and red near Naubuc Ave. and High St.
• The animals were observed alive and active on Monday morning but remained covered in paint, according to the agency.
• Animal control is asking the public for information to identify who is responsible, and no additional tips have been received since the post.
• The Facebook post drew more than 15,000 interactions largely consisting of jokes, offering few actionable leads.
• Similar incidents have been documented elsewhere, including a 2023 Missouri deer marked "PET" and a 2024 New York arrest involving spray-painted squirrels.