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The owner of Peanut the squirrel wants answers after his pet was euthanized in New York

“We heard from another news station that they killed Peanut,” owner Mark Longo told NewsNation over the weekend.

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Mark Longo, who called Peanut the squirrel his pet for the past seven years, described New Yorkers' decision to confiscate and euthanize the wild animal turned social media star as a “disgrace.”

“What happened today and what happened this week was nothing short of a tragedy and a disgrace to the state of New York,” Longo told NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo over the weekend. “We used resources from this state to kill a squirrel and a raccoon and raid my house like I was a drug dealer. We have resources to kill a raccoon and a squirrel, but we can't fix the big bridges on the road? I’m horrified.”

On Nov. 1, Peanut the squirrel, a social media star who now has more than 692,000 Instagram followers – the account gained even more followers after last week's events – was euthanized to be tested for rabies, according to a statement from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Health Department of Chemung County. The statement also said a person involved in the seizure investigation was bitten by the squirrel.

Two days earlier, the New York City Department of Environmental Conservation seized Peanut from his home in Pine City, New York. This seizure came due to “multiple reports from the public regarding the potentially unsafe housing of wild animals that could transmit rabies and the illegal keeping of wild animals as pets,” according to the department. A raccoon named Fred was also confiscated from Longo's home and euthanized.

Over the weekend, Longo shared several posts on Peanut's Instagram account, including interviews with news networks, fan art tributes and old videos of the pet.

“We haven’t heard anything from the DEC. We haven't even received a statement from the DEC. We heard from another news station that they killed Peanut,” Longo told NewsNation’s Cuomo.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched in response to Peanut's seizure. Originally, the GoFundMe served as a way for fans to help fund the legal fees that might be required to bring Peanut home. But over the weekend, the fundraiser's goal changed to honor Peanut and funded P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping neglected animals. As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe had raised $162,955.

USA TODAY attempted to reach Longo.

What is the result of the peanut rabies test?

The results of the peanut rabies test have not been published. USA TODAY contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Chemung County Department of Health for an update Monday morning but did not receive a response.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), results of a rabies test are typically available within 24 to 72 hours after an animal is euthanized.

Can squirrels get rabies?

Although rare, squirrels can transmit rabies and a squirrel can transmit the virus to humans.

According to Critter Control, a wildlife control service, a squirrel's saliva contains a high concentration of the virus. Infection with rabies then occurs through direct contact, be it through a bite, a scratch or contact with saliva. Common symptoms of a fast squirrel include running in circles, falling over, drooling, aggression, and seizures and muscle spasms, according to Critter Control.

Why do animals have to be euthanized to test for rabies?

According to the CDC, animals showing signs of rabies must be euthanized before the sample is sent to a qualified rabies laboratory for testing. This is because a rabies test includes a “complete cross-section of tissue from both the brainstem and cerebellum.” There are no approved methods for ante mortem animal rabies testing.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Chemung County Department of Health advised anyone who had contact with the seized squirrel or raccoon to seek medical attention.

Was quarantine an option?

Although the CDC recommends euthanizing an animal, if rabies is suspected, stray dogs, cats and ferrets may undergo “10-day observation if euthanasia is not desired, particularly if there is a possibility of rehoming the animal.”

However, when it comes to other animals, the CDC says actions depend on “the species, the circumstances of the bite, the rabies epidemiology in the area, the animal's health history, and possible rabies exposure.”

Who was Peanut the Squirrel?

Peanut was a rescued squirrel who had lived in Longo's care for seven years.

According to previous reporting by USA TODAY, Longo first came into contact with Peanut when he saw the squirrel's mother get hit by a car. Unfortunately, the mother died and Peanut was an orphan. Longo was unable to find an animal shelter that could take him. Longo ended up feeding baby Peanut for about eight months before attempting to release him back into the wild.

“I released him in the backyard and a day and a half later I found him sitting on my porch with half of his tail missing. So there I am, crying my eyes out, like, I failed you as your human,” Longo told USA TODAY in 2022. “And I kind of opened the door, he ran in and that was the last of Peanut’s wildlife career.”

For the first five years, Longo, Peanut and Longo's cat Chloe lived together in harmony.

Last spring, Longo founded P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City. According to its website, the nonprofit serves as a “sanctuary where neglected and homeless animals are given a second chance at life.”

“We moved to a small town to start a non-profit animal rescue called P'Nut's Freedom Farm. We understood that this internet sensation was a wave and wanted to make something great out of it, so we moved from Connecticut to New York. We . … have rescued over 300 animals, all in the name of Peanut,” Longo told NewsNation’s Cuomo. “Peanut is the center of our organization. I used his social media to raise funds to continue helping animals.”

Is it legal to keep squirrels as pets in New York?

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection says it is illegal to keep young wild animals as pets.

“Inadequate care of young wild animals often leads to abnormal attachments to humans,” explains the Department of Environmental Conservation. “After release, some return to places where people live, only to be attacked by pets or hit by cars. Some become a nuisance by getting into stored food, trash cans or homes. And some may be thrust into the home as unwelcome intruders.” range of another member of their species.

If a person finds a young wild animal that is injured or orphaned, the department recommends calling a wildlife rehabilitator, who are “the only people legally authorized to take in and treat distressed wild animals.” The goal of rehabilitators is to safely release the animal back into the wild when it is healthy.

Greta Cross is a national trends reporter for USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

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