A beloved social media celebrity squirrel named Peanut was seized and euthanized by New York State authorities last week, sparking widespread outrage and even bomb threats against state offices. The incident began when officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided the home of Mark Longo in Pine City, New York, following anonymous complaints about illegally kept wildlife. The confiscation and subsequent euthanization of both Peanut and a raccoon named Fred led to intense backlash, forcing thousands of DEC employees to work remotely and drawing criticism from prominent political figures.

The Initial Incident
• Mark Longo, 34, had kept Peanut (also spelled P’Nut or PNUT) as a pet for seven years.
• At least six officers from the NY Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided Longo’s home.
• The raid was prompted by “multiple anonymous complaints” about wildlife being kept as pets.
• Officers seized both Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon during the raid. An injured Fred was dropped off on his doorstep several months ago, but Longo said he and his wife were planning to release him back into the woods.

Peanut The Squirrel’s Story
• Longo rescued Peanut seven years ago after seeing the squirrel’s mother hit by a car in New York City. 
• After eight months of care, Longo attempted to release Peanut into the wild.
• Peanut returned 1.5 days later, injured with half his tail missing.
• Peanut became an internet celebrity with hundreds of thousands of followers across Instagram and TikTok.
• The squirrel was known for wearing miniature cowboy hats, crocheted bunny ears, and eating waffles.

The Outcome
• Both Peanut and Fred were euthanized to test for rabies.
• The euthanization was prompted after Peanut reportedly bit someone during the confiscation.
• Fred also allegedly “acted against a human.”
• Longo learned about Peanut’s death from a news organization, not directly from authorities.

The Aftermath
• The incident has sparked widespread outrage and backlash.
• Eight of New York’s DEC offices received bomb threats (Allegany, Bath, Buffalo, Cortland, New Paltz, NYC, Sherburne, Stony Brook, Syracuse, and Tarrytown).
• DEC’s approximately 3,000 employees were told they could work from home Monday and Tuesday due to safety concerns.
• Former President Donald Trump issued a statement criticizing the handling of the situation.
• The Chemung County Sheriff’s Office has distanced itself from the incident, clarifying it had no involvement.

Longo’s Response

• “We will make a stance on how this government and New York state utilizes their resources,” Longo told the Associated Press in a phone interview.
• He also posted an angry message on Instagram: “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness.”
• In the post, he directed his anger at anonymous complainants: “To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you”
• Longo asked why authorities couldn’t have provided guidance instead: “If we’re not following the rules, guide us in the right direction to follow the rules, you know?”

Legal Context
• It is against New York state law to own wild animals without a license.
• Longo claims he was in the process of filing paperwork to get Peanut certified as an educational animal.
• Longo runs P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, which opened in April 2023 and houses about 300 animals.

Jake Blumencranz, a Republican member of the New York Assembly, has since introduced an amendment to the state’s environmental conservation law that he’s calling “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act.” According to N.Y. television station WETM, the proposed amendment would impose a minimum 72-hour pause before euthanizing any sanctuary animal barring a licensed veterinarian certifying an imminent threat to human safety.

This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com

The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.