Reason for euthanization of Peanut the squirrel revealed.
A famous squirrel named Peanut, once a rescue turned social media star, has met a tragic fate.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) seized and euthanized Peanut, sparking an emotional backlash online.
Mark Longo, Peanut’s owner and the man who rescued him, is devastated and promises not to let this go unanswered.
Peanut’s story explained.
Longo first found Peanut six years ago after the baby squirrel’s mother was hit by a car.
Unable to survive alone, Peanut quickly bonded with Longo, who bottle-fed and raised him as a member of the family.
Over the years, Peanut became a viral hit on Instagram, drawing in fans with his adorable antics.
From dressing up in costumes to nibbling on treats, Peanut’s presence online brought smiles to hundreds of thousands.
This affection was apparent in Longo’s daily posts, where he shared their life on a rural New York farm.
Reason for Peanut’s death exposed.
The DEC intervention followed anonymous complaints about the legality of housing wildlife at Longo’s farm.
The complaints spurred a raid where authorities seized both Peanut and another animal, Fred the raccoon.
The DEC justified the seizure by stating Peanut had bitten someone involved in the investigation, prompting a rabies test.
Peanut and Fred were put down despite Longo’s protests, and they weren’t even quarantined before being euthanized.
Longo claims the DEC’s actions were “heavy-handed” and that Peanut hadn’t shown rabies symptoms in his six years of life.
New York’s laws around wildlife detailed.
Legally, New York requires a license to keep wild animals as pets—something Longo was reportedly working on.
Longo insists Peanut wasn’t just a pet but an educational animal meant to raise awareness and joy.
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, a notable animal rights advocate, sympathizes but supports the DEC’s decision.
Hermelyn emphasized that rabies, nearly always fatal, necessitated immediate testing and euthanization of Peanut.
New York’s public health laws mandate this approach since there’s no viable rabies test for live animals.
But Longo argues that Peanut didn’t deserve to be removed without due process, calling the act “surreal.”
Longo’s next steps unveiled.
“Peanut was my family,” Longo declared in an interview. “They took my family away.”
Social media, where Peanut boasted over 500,000 followers, is flooded with sorrow and frustration from fans.
Many followers feel Peanut’s popularity as a beloved online figure made him a target for unwarranted complaints.
The DEC maintains that it was simply enforcing public safety and wildlife protection laws.
Longo, however, feels these regulations aren’t fairly applied and are too rigid for unique situations like Peanut’s.
New York Congressman Nick Langworthy is pressing the governor and DEC for answers on this handling.
Longo’s next steps include possible legal action, stating, “Peanut did not die in vain.”
Questions surround Peanut’s death.
The tragic end has raised questions about the role of the DEC in cases involving rescued or viral animals.
Critics argue that the rules need modernizing to reflect the reality of rescues who thrive as companions.
For six years, Peanut lived a life that turned him into an online sensation and brought joy to many.
Longo is now vowing to raise awareness and demand reform in the name of his furry friend.
“Peanut brought love into people’s lives,” he says, “and I will keep his legacy alive.”
Fans everywhere are hoping for a tribute, one that honors Peanut’s spirit and life.