Two days after Peanut the Squirrel was taken from his home in Pine City, New York, he was euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Chemung County Department of Health. Peanut was a beloved pet of content creator Mark Longo and has 534,000 Instagram followers.
Officials announced on Friday that Peanut and Raccoon were both seized from a residence on Wednesday and had been euthanized to test for rabies. The statement said a person involved in the confiscation investigation was bitten by the squirrel.
Peanut, or “PNUT,” was rescued seven years ago by Longo, after Peanut’s mother was killed by a car. Longo, who couldn’t find a shelter to take him in, raised Peanut from infancy, and the squirrel later became a social media sensation.
Longo showcased Peanut’s entire life on social media with 1,400 Instagram posts, showing him eating waffles, jumping through hula-hoops, and bonding with Longo and his cat, Chloe.
In response to Peanut’s confiscation, fans created a Change.org petition and GoFundMe campaign, gathering over 28,000 signatures and raising nearly $8,000 to support efforts to bring him home. However, the DEC adhered to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines requiring euthanasia for rabies testing, which involves examining brain tissue. There are no approved methods for testing live animals for rabies.
DEC officials reminded the public that it is illegal to keep wild animals as pets, stating that young animals raised by humans often develop an abnormal attachment, which can make reintroduction into the wild difficult and dangerous. They encourage contacting licensed wildlife rehabilitators for any injured or orphaned wildlife.
Longo, devastated by Peanut’s loss, shared updates on Peanut’s Instagram account, calling the experience a “terrible nightmare.” In addition to Peanut, Longo runs P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City, where he cares for neglected animals, including horses, cows, alpacas, and a pig.
The DEC and health department advised that anyone who had contact with Peanut or the raccoon consult a physician due to potential rabies exposure.
