This week, New York officials seized and euthanized a pet squirrel named Peanut, sparking outrage from his owner and a large social media following. Peanut, along with a raccoon named Fred, was taken on Wednesday from Mark Longo‘s home in Pine City, near New York’s Pennsylvania border.
On November 1, Longo shared on Instagram that his beloved pets had been euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
In the wake of Peanut’s death, support for Longo has poured in online, including from notable figures. Elon Musk commented on Twitter, “The government should leave people and their animals alone,” while RFK Jr added, “Are these the same guys that killed my whale and my bear? And, what happened to the head? Just asking for a friend.”
Congressman Nick Langworthy also criticized the Department of Environmental Conservation’s actions on X, saying, “The NYS DEC needs a serious reality check on their ridiculously mistaken priorities. Instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County—where local officials struggle just to get DEC permits to clear debris-filled waterways—they’re out seizing pet squirrels. NY taxpayers deserve better.”
Here is everything you need to know about Peanut the Squirrel.
Who is PNUT?
Peanut was a social media sensation with almost 600 K followers on Instagram. Owned and cared for by Mark Longo, Peanut’s life was documented through 1,400 Instagram posts, showing him enjoying waffles, jumping through hula hoops, and bonding with Longo and his cat, Chloe.
According to Longo, Peanut had become a central figure in P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, the non-profit organisation he founded to rescue neglected animals. The sanctuary currently shelters over 300 animals, with Peanut serving as its beloved symbol.
Seven years ago, Longo rescued Peanut after the squirrel’s mother was hit by a car. Unable to find a shelter to take him in, Longo raised Peanut from infancy, and the beloved squirrel soon gained a massive online following.
Why was Peanut the Squirrel confiscated?
The county health department and New York Department of Environmental Conservation reported they received complaints about “potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies” and the “illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.”
According to NBC News, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received multiple anonymous complaints about Peanut and dispatched “at least six officers” to Longo’s home to seize Peanut and Fred.
In a joint statement, the DEC and Chemung County Department of Health explained they are “coordinating to ensure the protection of public health related to the illegal possession of wild animals that have the potential to carry the rabies virus.”
While the DEC said the raid came after complaints about his raccoon, Fred, Longo insists they used this as an excuse to seize his squirrel, Peanut.
Why was Peanut the Squirrel euthanized?
Peanut and Fred were euthanized on November 1, after Peanut allegedly bit an officer involved in the raid.
The DEC and health department indicated that rabies has been found in raccoons in New York’s Southern Tier, including Pine City, for over 30 years, raising concerns that Longo’s pet raccoon, Fred, could potentially have the disease.
In a joint statement, the DEC and Chemung County Department of Health explained, “To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized. The animals are being tested for rabies, and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their physician.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animals displaying signs of rabies must be euthanized so that specimens can be submitted to a qualified laboratory for testing.
This procedure is necessary because rabies testing requires a “full cross-section of tissue from both the brain stem and cerebellum.” Currently, there are no approved methods for testing for rabies in animals while they are still alive.
Politicisation of Peanut’s death
A fake statement supposedly from the Trump-Vance campaign went viral, starting with a post by user Gentry Genvers on X. Karoline Leavitt from Trump’s team clarified to The Post that it was a “fake statement” and confirmed Trump “didn’t actually say that.”
The original post was a response to Elon Musk’s comment about Trump, suggesting he would “save the squirrels” as president. Musk, a Trump loyalist, has been actively discussing the incident on X.
A pro-Trump meme account, Mostly Peaceful Memes, shared a scene from John Wick with the caption, “The Internet after hearing what they did to Peanut the Squirrel,” while others created AI-generated graphics of Peanut with Trump.
