The police also have dogs trained to sniff out substances such as drugs. But China is training squirrels like dogs. Chinese police have trained squirrels to find drugs hidden in high places. Six Eurasian red squirrels became part of the force after training. Chinese official media Global Times reports that their services will soon be available in Chongqing.
Yin Jin, one of the handlers of the Hechuan Public Security Bureau’s dog brigade, said their training model can be applied to other animal species, and the results so far have been positive, and the squirrels are able to identify drugs very quickly. Unlike dogs, squirrels can easily reach difficult areas and high places. If the presence of drugs is detected during the inspection, the squirrel will alert the authorities by making a mark on the ground. China is a country where drug trafficking is punishable by death.