Peanut, a beloved pet squirrel and internet sensation, was confiscated by New York state officials in a raid on owner Mark Longo’s animal sanctuary. The state claimed it had received complaints about the illegal keeping of wildlife. During the investigation, a worker was allegedly bitten by the squirrel, prompting DEC to euthanize Peanut in order to test for rabies. Longo denied the worker had been bitten and insisted that the animals were rabies free. The subsequent tests on Peanut and a raccoon named Fred came back negative for rabies, but the animals had already been euthanized.
Chemung County Executive Chris Moss confirmed that the county had worked with the state and followed protocols during the incident. The State Department of Health had outlined to the county that wildlife cannot be confined like domestic animals and that if there was an exposure, animals needed to be tested for rabies. Unfortunately, rabies tests require euthanasia via decapitation in order to sample the subjects’ brains. The DEC coordinated the animals’ euthanasia after the health department’s instructions, and both Peanut and Fred were killed.
Longo, who had established the animal sanctuary, P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, last year, had taken Peanut in after finding the squirrel when its mother was killed. Peanut refused to return to the wild and became attached to the couple. An Instagram page dedicated to Peanut had over 550,000 followers, showcasing the playful interactions Longo and his wife had with the squirrel and other animals they cared for. The online backlash following Peanut’s death quickly went viral, with a post from Elon Musk expressing sympathy for Peanut’s passing.
Authorities reportedly went through every part of Longo’s house during the search for Peanut and Fred. Longo was shocked by the extent of the investigation, as four departments and a judge signed off on a search warrant for the squirrel and a raccoon. The deaths of Peanut and Fred sparked widespread outrage online, with many expressing sadness at the loss of the beloved animals. In an emotional Instagram video, Longo spoke about his grief over Peanut’s death, calling the squirrel his best friend and thanking it for bringing joy to their lives.
Longo criticized the government’s actions and expressed his disappointment that the animals were killed despite testing negative for rabies. He had expected the test results to be negative based on his years of living with the animals. The timeline of events surrounding Peanut’s confiscation and euthanasia was called into question, as Longo said he was in “utter shock” when presented with the latest details. The story of Peanut’s tragic end garnered significant attention in the media, with many questioning the actions of the state officials involved in the case.
