close
close

Beloved pet squirrel Peanut was confiscated by New York State after 7 years in the home

Oh, crazy.

A rescued pet squirrel that was at the helm of a social media and charity empire has been confiscated by New York state – with its owner saying it will be euthanized, according to an Instagram post.

Peanut the squirrel was rescued seven years ago after his mother was hit and killed by a car. Instagram

Peanut the squirrel was abducted from his home in Elmira, New York, on Wednesday by Department of Environmental Protection officials, who served an arrest warrant to Peanut's guardians after receiving complaints about “unlawfully owned” animals, the post said.

“Well Internet, you WON,” reads the caption of the Peanut_The_Squirrel12 account. “You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there is a special place in hell for you.”

A DEC spokesperson confirmed to The Post that officials took Peanut the squirrel and a pet raccoon.

Peanut is a social media star with over a million followers
Platforms. Instagram

The squirrel's owner, Mark Longo, claimed he was “shocked” and “in disbelief” that DEC would allegedly euthanize his pet and friend, the social media post said.

The DEC said the animals were seized in coordination with the Chemung County Health Department “due to the presence of a Rabis vector species (raccoon) in the home.”

The state authority did not comment on whether the animals would be euthanized.

According to social media reports, Longo recorded Peanut seven years ago when he was a cub after seeing his mother get hit by a car.

Peanut has 532,000 followers on Instagram, more than 423,000 followers on Facebook, and over 2 million views on TikTok.

Peanut while chewing a waffle, one of his favorite snacks,
according to social media. Instagram

Longo, a Connecticut native, moved to Elmira in 2023 to start an animal shelter called P'Nut's Freedom Farm, a 501.C.3 nonprofit organization.

“Last year we moved to New York in hopes of starting a NONPROFIT animal rescue in the name of PNUT. [P’Nuts Freedom Farm] will forever be remembered by PNUT,” Longo wrote in the post announcing Peanut’s seizure.

“With over 350 animal rescues, we have relied heavily on PNUT and its Internet family to donate to help more animals. I don't even know how [sic] Continue to raise funds for this nonprofit.”

According to the group's website, P'Nut's Freedom Farm is an organization made up of veterinarians and caregivers dedicated to rescuing animals from abusive or dire situations.

Following the announcement of Peanut's capture, Longo posted several phone numbers for the Department of Environmental Protection on his feed, urging his supporters to call in protest of the government's actions.

Peanut's guardian Mark Longo founded P'Nut's Freedom Farm, a
Organization dedicated to rescuing abused, abandoned and neglected people
Animals. Instagram

There is also a petition to return Peanut to his rightful home.

This isn't the first time the DEC has made a public outcry over the confiscation of a beloved pet.

Earlier this year, the agency seized a 750-pound alligator from a home in Hamburg, New York, that was equipped with a huge room and a pool for the reptile to thrive.

“Albert” the alligator lived in his home for 34 years and was raised as a cub by guardian Tony Cavallaro, who is now suing the department to regain custody of his longtime friend.