Annie Walton Doyle
Peanut, a beloved pet squirrel known for his social media fame, has been euthanized by New York state wildlife officials.
Mark Longo, Peanut’s heartbroken caretaker, has since spoken out, expressing deep outrage over the incident.
Peanut was taken in by Longo after he was orphaned when his mother was struck by a vehicle in New York City.
Longo shared his emotional response to the news on social media, stating: “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.”
His Instagram account had garnered tens of thousands of followers, showcasing Peanut’s playful antics, which included leaping onto Longo’s shoulder, performing tricks, and wearing adorable miniature hats.
The raid occurred on October 30, 2024, at P’nuts Freedom Farm, the animal sanctuary that Longo and his wife, Daniela, opened in April 2023.
The sanctuary currently houses about 300 animals, including horses, goats, and alpacas.
Longo described the raid as a five-hour ordeal in which multiple officers searched his property.
He questioned the necessity of such a large police presence, asking: “You need that many officers to show up to my house to literally pull my closets apart?”
“They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer. They ransacked my house for five hours,” Longo added to The New York Post.
“They asked my wife, who is of German descent, what her immigration status was. They asked if I had cameras in my house. They wouldn’t allow me to go to the bathroom without a police escort, who then checked the back of the toilet to see if I was hiding anything there.”
The DEC stated that the seizure of Peanut and another pet raccoon named Fred was prompted by anonymous complaints regarding the animals.
In a formal statement, per The Guardian, the agency explained: “On Oct. 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized.”
They further advised that anyone who had been in contact with the animals should consult their physician.
Longo reported that he was in the process of securing the necessary permits to keep Peanut as an educational animal when the seizure occurred.
According to New York law, to legally rescue squirrels, one must become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, a process that can take several months.
Additionally, any domesticated wild animal must be registered as an educational animal to be kept legally.
Longo expressed his intentions to comply with the regulations, stating: “We were ready to comply… We needed a little bit of guidance from the DEC.”
Despite a significant online petition with tens of thousands of signatures calling for the return of Peanut, the law in New York categorizes wild animals as property.
This means that even public outcry and support could not reverse the decision made by wildlife officials.
The DEC confirmed the euthanasia of both Peanut and Fred on November 2, 2024, a move that has left Longo and his family in shock and mourning.
In a heart-wrenching post shared on Peanut’s social media account, Longo expressed his grief: “It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news: on October 30th, the DEC made the devastating decision to euthanize our beloved Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon.”
Accompanying the message was a video montage celebrating the joyful moments shared with the animals.
Longo has since indicated plans to pursue legal action regarding what he views as an excessive and unnecessary raid, highlighting the broader conversation about wildlife laws and animal welfare in New York.
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