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Peanut The Squirrel Controversy, Explained

Posted on by Kennedy
Peanut The Squirrel Controversy, Explained

Mark Longo, the owner of Instagram-famous squirrel Peanut, is mourning the loss of his beloved pet.

On November 1, Longo shared on Instagram that Peanut, along with his pet raccoon named Fred, had been euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“Despite our passionate cries for compassion, the agency has chosen to ignore our pleas and leave us in deep shock and sadness,” he said online.

In light of the news, Congressman Nick Langworthy reached out to X to express his frustration with how the DEC handled the situation.

He said: “The NYS DEC needs a serious reality check on its ridiculously false priorities. Instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County, where local officials must struggle to get permits from the DEC to remove debris.” Overcrowded waterways are on the move to confiscate squirrels as pets. 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 artist Mark Longo, who occasionally shared videos on Instagram of Peanut eating treats, jumping on his clothes, and scurrying around his house while completing various tasks throughout the day.

Peanut's Instagram account, operated by Longo, currently has over 500,000 followers. On his profile there is a link to P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, an animal shelter named after his little furry friend.

According to the sanctuary's official website, Longo met Peanut seven years ago when Peanut was still a baby. Since Peanut had lost “half of his tail” in a serious attack, he was not skilled enough to live in the wild, so Longo decided to care for the squirrel at home.

Who is the owner of Peanut the squirrel?

Content creator Mark Longo is the owner of Peanut the squirrel. In an interview with 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 confiscated?

On Wednesday, October 30, Peanut the squirrel and Longo's other pet, a raccoon named Fred, were confiscated from his home by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to NBC News, the DEC received several anonymous complaints about Peanut and showed up at 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 say they are “coordinating to ensure the protection of public health related to the illegal possession of wildlife that has the potential to transmit the rabies virus.”

The DEC also states that it is illegal to keep young wild animals as pets because they are “not well suited to life in captivity. They can also carry diseases that can be passed on to humans.”

After Peanut and Fred were taken away, Longo took to Instagram to call out the people who had complained to the DEC.

“Well, Internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away 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 notified the media of the animals' deaths in front of his nonprofit P'nuts Freedom Farm.

He says: “This shows a worrying lack of respect and empathy. Her life was precious and we refuse to accept this loss in silence.”

According to the DEC and Chemung County Health Department, 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 will be tested for rabies and anyone who has come into contact with these animals is strongly advised to consult their doctor.”

After learning of Peanut and Fred's deaths, Longo shared on Instagram that he was “deeply shocked and saddened.”

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