Mark Longo, the owner of the Instagram-famous squirrel Peanut, is mourning the loss of his beloved pet.
On November 1, Longo announced on Instagram that Peanut, along with his raccoon Fred, had been euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“Despite our passionate calls for compassion, the agency has chosen to ignore our pleas, leaving us deeply shocked and saddened,” he said online.
In light of the news, Congressman Nick Langworthy turned to X to express his frustration with the DEC’s handling of the situation.
He said, “The NYS DEC needs a serious reality check on their ridiculously misguided priorities. Instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County, where local officials have to scramble to get permits from the DEC to clear debris. filled waterways they are busy confiscating squirrels. New York taxpayers deserve better.”
Read on to find out what happened to Peanut the squirrel and why he was euthanized.
Who is Peanut the Squirrel?
Peanut the squirrel is an internet sensation. He is the beloved pet of digital creator Mark Longo, who occasionally shared Instagram videos of Peanut eating treats, jumping on his clothes, and running around his house while performing various tasks throughout the day.
Peanut’s Instagram account, managed by Longo, currently has over 500,000 followers. His profile includes a link to P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, an animal shelter named after his little furry friend.
According to the shelter’s official website, Longo met Peanut seven years ago when Peanut was a baby. Because Peanut had “lost half his tail in a major attack,” he was not adept enough to live in the wild, so Longo decided to care for the squirrel at home.
Who owns Peanut the squirrel?
Content creator Mark Longo is the owner of Peanut the squirrel. In an interview he did on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, Longo explained that he is also an engineer and works in construction.
One of his passions is caring for animals, as he runs an animal shelter in Pine City, New York, that helps injured or abused animals in desperate need of care.
Why was Peanut the squirrel seized?
On Wednesday, October 30, Peanut the Squirrel and Longo’s other pet, a raccoon named Fred, were seized from his home by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
According to NBC News, the DEC received multiple anonymous complaints about Peanut and came to Longo’s home with “at least six officers” to take Peanut and Fred away.
In a joint statement, the DEC and the Chemung County Department of Health said they are “coordinating to ensure the protection of public health in connection with the illegal possession of wildlife that has the potential to carry the rabies virus.”
The DEC also notes that it is illegal to keep young animals in the wild as pets because they are “not well suited to life in captivity. In addition, they can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.”
After Peanut and Fred were taken away, Longo took to Instagram to call out those who filed complaints with the DEC.
“Well internet, you won. You took one of the most amazing animals from me because of your selfishness,” he said online. “To the group of people who called DEC, there is a special place in hell for you.”
Why was Peanut the squirrel euthanized?
Peanut and Fred were both euthanized, and Longo said the DEC informed the media about the animals’ deaths before his nonprofit, P’nuts Freedom Farm.
He said: “This shows a disturbing lack of respect and empathy. Their lives were precious, and we refuse to accept this loss in silence.”
According to the DEC and the Chemung County Department of Health, Fred and Peanut were euthanized after a person involved in the investigation was bitten by Peanut.
“To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized,” they said in a joint statement. “The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has come into contact with these animals is strongly advised to consult their doctor.”
After learning about Peanut and Fred’s deaths, Longo said on Instagram that he was in “deep shock and sadness.”
