Two days after he was seized from his home in New York, Peanut the Squirrel has been euthanized. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Chemung County Department of Health announced through a statement on Friday afternoon that both a squirrel and racoon confiscated from a residence on Wednesday had been euthanized to test for rabies. The statement said a person involved in the confiscation investigation was bitten by the squirrel.
Peanut the Squirrel, who boasted 534,000 followers on Instagram, was taken from his home in Pine City, New York, by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation on Wednesday morning. Peanut, also known as PNUT, was the beloved pet of content creator Mark Longo. In more than 1,400 posts shared to Instagram, Peanut can be seen munching on waffles, jumping through hula-hoops, and greeting Longo home from work.
According to DEC and health department statement, rabies have been found in racoons in New York's Southern Tier, which includes Pine City, for more than 30 years.
Over the past several days, Longo has shared several statements on Peanut's Instagram account, keeping fans updated, in hopes that Peanut may return home. At the time of publication, Longo had not posted in regards to the recent news.
"It has been a terrible nightmare for me," Longo said in his most recent video, posted Friday morning.
In response to Peanut's seizure, a Change.org petition and GoFundMe campaign were created to "return him (Peanut)" to his family. As of Friday afternoon, the petition had 28,025 signatures, and the GoFundMe has raised $7,875.
Peanut was a rescue squirrel who had lived under Longo's care for seven years. Longo first connected with Peanut when he saw the squirrel's mom get hit by a car, per previous USA TODAY reporting. Unfortunately, the mother passed, leaving Peanut an orphan. Longo was unsuccessful in finding a shelter that would take him in. Longo ended up feeding baby Peanut for about eight months before attempting to release him back into the wild.
"I released him in the backyard, and a day and a half later, I found him sitting on my porch, missing half his tail. So here I am, bawling my eyes out, like, I failed you as your human," Longo told USA TODAY in 2022. "And I kind of opened the door, he ran inside and that was the last of Peanut's wildlife career."
For the first five years, Longo, Peanut, and Longo's cat, Chloe, lived together in harmony.
Last year, Longo established P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City. The nonprofit serves as a "haven where neglected and homeless animals receive a second chance at life," according to its website. To date, 18 horses, one mini horse, four cows, three alpacas, one parrot, one pig and two geese call the sanctuary home, according to its website.
USA TODAY contacted Longo but was unsuccessful in connecting with him for an interview.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation states that it is illegal for young wildlife to be kept as pets. "Inappropriate care given to young wildlife often results in abnormal attachment to humans," the Department of Environmental Conservation states. "After release, some return to places where people live, only to be attacked by domestic animals or to be hit by cars. Some become nuisances getting into stored food, trash cans or dwellings. And some may be thrust as unwelcome intruders into the home range of another member of their species."
If an individual finds a young wild animal that is injured or orphaned, the department recommends making a call to a wildlife rehabilitator, who "are the only people legally allowed to receive and treat distressed wildlife." The goal of rehabilitators is to safely release the animal, when healthy, back into the wild.
Why Was Peanut Seized?
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said in a statement that they received “multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.”
The DEC’s decision to euthanize Peanut and his raccoon companion, Fred, has sparked outrage from animal rights activists and Peanut’s many fans, who have taken to social media to express their grief and anger. Many are questioning the DEC’s decision to euthanize the animals, arguing that there were other options available, such as placing them in a wildlife sanctuary.
The Aftermath of Peanut’s Seizure
Following the seizure, Longo and his wife, Dani, shared a heartfelt message on Peanut’s Instagram account, expressing their grief and vowing to fight for justice. “It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news,” they wrote. “Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief… Their lives were precious, and we refuse to accept this loss in silence.”
Longo has also expressed frustration with the public’s reaction to the seizure. In a video posted on Peanut’s Instagram account, Longo said, “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness.” Longo claimed that the online backlash was fuelled by animal rights activists who were jealous of the attention Peanut received online.
Longo has maintained that he was in the process of obtaining the necessary permits to keep Peanut as an educational animal. However, the DEC maintains that it is illegal to keep wild animals as pets, even for educational purposes.
Peanut’s Legacy
Peanut’s story is a reminder that even animals who are beloved by millions can face tragedy. It also highlights the complexities of animal welfare and the challenges of balancing the needs of humans and animals.
It remains to be seen whether Longo will be able to continue his animal sanctuary work in the wake of Peanut’s death. However, his work has touched the lives of many animals, and his passion for animal welfare is undeniable.
Peanut’s story has sparked a national conversation about the ethical treatment of wildlife, the role of social media in animal welfare, and the importance of responsible animal ownership. His legacy will likely continue to inspire and challenge people for years to come.
