One of Meta’s offices was briefly taken over by a rogue squirrel

The year of the Meta so it was far from exactly a picnic. But that didn’t stop one nut-loving creature from seeking a little joy at one of the company’s offices this week.

A squirrel apparently got loose in a building in Bangkok, Thailand, where some of the tech giant’s regional teams are based. The creator spent at least 20 minutes throwing himself past the staff, according to an internal memo seen by WIRED. The squirrel was noted to have slightly injured a doorman before it was finally captured.

The office rodent’s adventure — while potentially horrifying to some — brought a moment of levity to Meta employees around the world, who were disheartened by recent restructuring, mass layoffs and the launch of an AI training initiative using employee data without their initial consent. Meta executives recognized the current morale crisis and began trying to lift internal spirits by funding boozy social outings and promising to improve office food, according to current employees and an internal memo.

In recent years, some Meta employees have complained about losing access to healthy office snacks like nuts, which they say have been replaced by less nutritious options like chips. Whether the animal marauder in Bangkok found anything to his liking cannot be learned.

The squirrel was delivered to the office in a package but ended up escaping, according to the internal memo. A doorman from a cleaning company accepted the delivery. The reasons behind the delivery of the squirrel and where it now lives are not mentioned in the note, but some people keep the animals as pets or eat their meat.

Meta declined to comment on the incident.

The injured worker, who suffered a scratched finger, was given first aid and later taken to hospital for medical examination, the note said. The porter « responsible for bringing the animal into the premises » has formally acknowledged their misconduct and is committed to complying with office regulations to ensure « such an incident does not occur again », the note added.

New York Times reporter Mike Isaacs first reported the incident in a social media post on Tuesday, without specifying the location or role of the janitor. « Employees are expected to have a day’s work with it internally, » he wrote. « One person created an AI-generated video mimicking an HR training course on best office practices involving a squirrel. »

Squirrels looking for a suitable home in Metta’s empire may find better luck venturing into Hawaii, where CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s personal livestock feed on home-brewed beer and macadamia nuts.

Additional reporting by Lauren Good.