A brand new scientific examine has lastly ended the thriller, and the web’s favourite rat is a rat no extra.

For practically two years, Chicagoans and vacationers have handled a small imprint in a Roscoe Village sidewalk like a sacred web site. The so-called “Chicago Rat Hole,” which has existed for 20-30 years earlier than changing into an web sensation, impressed TikToks, fan artwork, and numerous selfies.

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However, a brand new examine has lastly ended the thriller, and the web’s favourite rat is a rat no extra.

In October 2025, researchers introduced that the imprint wasn’t made by a rat in any respect.

Instead, they decided it got here from a squirrel that seemingly slipped from a close-by tree and landed on moist concrete someday within the early 2000s. Their findings, revealed by the Royal Society, relied on detailed comparisons between the imprint’s measurements and preserved specimens of eight rodent species.

@rubencordobajr blessing the grave of a god fearing Ratholic #chicagorathole #chicago #rat #rathole #ratpope #gap #fyp ♬ Ameno hatsune miku – Hybrid theorist

Forensic evaluation overturns the viral rat delusion

The workforce behind the examine wrote, “The ‘Chicago Rat Hole’ is a remarkable full body impression ostensibly created by a brown rat […] crossing fresh concrete in Chicago’s Roscoe Village that became a viral sensation. While the public attributed the mark to a brown rat, no formal analysis had been conducted to confirm its identity.”

Researchers analyzed the imprint’s proportions and located that every one of its proportions pointed to at least one mammal: tree squirrels. According to the examine, “analysis indicated a 98.67% likelihood that the ‘Chicago Rat Hole’ was a squirrel.” It was about 50/50 whether or not it was an japanese gray squirrel or fox squirrel.

Because japanese gray squirrels are extra widespread within the space, the scientists concluded that the species was essentially the most possible match. As the paper defined, “Given local population densities, an eastern grey squirrel likely represents the most parsimonious species-level match.”

The examine additionally mirrored on how simply viral tales can blur truth and folklore. “This investigation underscores the challenges of attributing a trace to the tracemaker,” the authors wrote. They added that curiosity itself drives discovery, noting that “scientific inquiry begins with curiosity and observation: qualities that are not exclusive to professional scientists.”

The viral legacy of a concrete thriller

Back in January 2024, the “rat hole” turned an in a single day phenomenon. Comedian Winslow Dumaine’s tweet, saying he was making a “pilgrimage to the Chicago Rat Hole,” unfold rapidly, and the situation turned a unusual vacationer cease and even a pseudo-religion, although locals complained. 

Even earlier than the brand new analysis, on-line communities debated its true origin. A 13-year-old Reddit put up confirmed an older photograph with clearer footprints, suggesting the animal had walked away. Some residents already suspected a squirrel had fallen from a tree within the authentic Reddit thread.

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