A squirrel in Brooklyn leaped from a telephone pole after a ceremonial cannon blast at Fort Hamilton, an incident captured in viral footage. The event occurred Thursday morning as Army members fired the cannon to welcome a German warship, FGS Sachsen, which was arriving as part of the Grand Parade of Sail to celebrate America's 250th birthday.
The U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton shared the footage on Facebook with a humorous caption: “Sorry for the early boom, Brooklyn! We promise it’s for a good cause. (The squirrel remains unconvinced.).” The post suggested the squirrel's reaction was likely due to the noise disturbance.
In the video, the squirrel is seen flailing its tail as it falls, ultimately landing on the back of a nearby soldier before scampering away. Military officials confirmed that both the squirrel and the soldier were unharmed, though startled.
The video gained significant traction online, with over 1.2 million views. The arrival of the German navy ship FGS Sachsen marked a part of the ongoing America 250 celebrations leading up to the Fourth of July.