Peanut The Squirrel’s Killing Under Internal Investigation By New York State

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has launched an internal investigation after the agency seized a pet squirrel named Peanut who was later euthanized, sparking national outrage.
“DEC is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of wildlife across New York,” said a statement obtained by local news station WETM 18 News. “An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission.”
Peanut became a social media star after being orphaned seven years ago and kept as an indoor pet by Mark Longo in rural Pine City, New York. Longo, who posted photos and videos showing the squirrel jumping and climbing on him, eating toaster waffles and wearing hats, did not have the legally required permit to keep wild animals. He told CBS News that he and his wife were “in the process” of getting the right paperwork.
In late October, conservation officers raided Longo’s home and seized Peanut, along with a raccoon named Fred. A spokesperson told the AP that the agency had received “multiple reports from the public” about Longo illegally keeping wildlife as pets.
Days later, NYDEC and the Chemung County Department of Health released a statement saying both animals had been “euthanized” to be tested for rabies after Peanut bit an officer. (Animals can’t be tested for rabies without being killed because their brain tissue needs to be examined.)
Squirrels “almost never” get rabies, according to the New York State Department of Health. But raccoons are more likely to carry the deadly disease, and officials feared the possibility that Fred could have had rabies and transmitted it to Peanut, said a statement from the Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents New York conversation officers.
The statement, obtained by CBS 6 Albany, also said the decision to euthanize Peanut and Fred was made by the county health department, not the state environmental agency.
NYDEC and the Chemung County health department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from HuffPost, and the rabies test results have not been released.
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Though Peanut had fans (and mourners) across the political spectrum, his death became a major cause for conservatives, who characterized the incident as an example of government overreach. The Sunday before the presidential election, GOP nominee Donald Trump’s campaign promised on TikTok to “avenge” the squirrel “at the ballot box.”
Outrage over Peanut and Fred also sparked at least 10 bomb threats on state environmental facilities, a spokesperson told The New York Times.
Longo, who last year established an animal sanctuary named after the squirrel, appears to have stayed away from any explicitly partisan comments. But he has condemned the state for its misplaced priorities.
“We have resources to kill a raccoon and a squirrel, but we can’t fix the major bridges down the street?” he said on NewsNation last week. “I am appalled.”