Florida Man Arrested for Training Squirrels to Attack Ex-Girlfriend

ORLANDO — A bizarre case of alleged wildlife weaponization came to an end when police arrested Martin Henderson, 29, for training neighborhood squirrels to harass his ex-girlfriend. Henderson allegedly used a system of peanut butter rewards to condition the rodents to swarm her car every morning. His attorney argues the squirrels are “independent contractors” and his client “merely suggested opportunities.” “My client is an animal enthusiast who happened to feed squirrels in a public area,” said defense attorney Sarah Goldstein. “If those squirrels chose to congregate near his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle, that’s simply coincidence.” The ex-girlfriend provided doorbell camera footage showing Henderson conducting what prosecutors call “training sessions” complete with a whiteboard and diagrams. Henderson maintains he was “just teaching them advanced foraging techniques.” Wildlife experts testified that while squirrels cannot be formally trained like dogs, they can develop behavioral patterns through consistent reinforcement. The case is ongoing.