Chicago’s Viral Rat Hole Revealed as Squirrel

In the greatest city on the planet, a hole became a tourist attraction and internet sensation. After a few years of speculation, the rodent in Chicago's Rat Hole is not a rat.

A team of scientists collaborated on a comprehensive study, and they are nearly 100% certain it's just a big old gray squirrel. While it was fun taking selfies, leaving "presents," and even getting married by the rat hole, it's not actually a rat hole.

The Royal Society's analysis shows the shape and size of the paw print debunks the theory that a rat was trapped in the hole.

The study also says the imprints show long, narrow forelimbs and digits, features not proportioned like a rat's but are instead ideally suited for a squirrel. Some folks are saying we should change the name from Rat Hole (iconic!) to the Windy City Sidewalk Squirrel (snooze, boring).

If you remember, the Rat Hole was cut out of the pavement earlier this year because locals in the area wanted the noise, foot traffic, and disturbance to go away.

It was fun while it lasted, Chicago Rat Hole. You were a beacon of comedy when you first appeared on the scene, and just like that, you seared your mysterious frozen-in-time outline in our minds, ensuring it will live on forever.