Nearly two years after the “Chicago Rat Hole” became a viral sensation, scientists have weighed in on the debate over what type of critter made the splat.

Researchers analyzed the famous imprint and found the creature responsible was not a rat, but most likely a squirrel.

There’s “a 98.67% likelihood that the ‘Chicago Rat Hole’ was a squirrel,” their paper published in the journal Biology Letters reads .

The rat hole briefly became the city’s hottest attraction in January 2024. People came from across the city to visit the splat in Roscoe Village. Some left offerings like spare change and shots of Malort. Others got engaged and married next to the rat hole. The image became a mascot for a 16-inch softball team and a popular tattoo choice . The hole was even briefly filled in overnight i

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