Did They Use a Real Squirrel in Christmas Vacation?

By Alice Nichols

If you’re a fan of the classic Christmas movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you may have wondered if the squirrel in one of the film’s most iconic scenes was real. In the scene, Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) is trying to enjoy a quiet family dinner when a squirrel suddenly jumps out of the Christmas tree and causes chaos in the house.

So, did they use a real squirrel for this scene? Let’s delve into the details.

The Squirrel Scene

First, let’s set the scene. In National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold is determined to have a perfect family Christmas.

However, things don’t quite go according to plan when his extended family arrives and chaos ensues. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie involves a squirrel that gets loose in the Griswold home.

Real or Fake?

Now, onto the question at hand – was the squirrel real or fake? The short answer is that it was indeed a real squirrel.

According to an interview with director Jeremiah S. Chechik, they used a trained squirrel for this scene. However, they did use some special effects to enhance certain parts of the scene.

Special Effects

While they did use a real trained squirrel for some parts of the scene, there were also some special effects used to make it look even more chaotic and wild. For example, when Clark’s mother-in-law shoots at the squirrel with her purse gun, they used an animatronic puppet for safety reasons.

Animal Welfare

It’s worth noting that using live animals in movies can be controversial due to concerns about animal welfare. However, it seems that great care was taken on set to ensure that both humans and animals were safe during filming.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the squirrel in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was indeed real. Although some special effects were used to enhance certain parts of the scene, they did use a trained squirrel for the majority of it. While using live animals in movies can be controversial, it appears that great care was taken to ensure that everyone involved was safe and comfortable during filming.