An upstate New York squirrel beloved by tons of of 1000’s of social media followers was seized and euthanized by state officers earlier this week.
The New York State Division of Environmental Conservation and Chemung County Division of Well being introduced via an announcement on Friday afternoon that each a squirrel and racoon confiscated from a residence on Wednesday had been euthanized to check for rabies, USA TODAY reported. The assertion stated an individual concerned within the confiscation investigation was bitten by the squirrel.
Homeowners of Peanut the Squirrel, who has now amassed 550,000 followers on Instagram, confirmed his euthanasia in a video posted to Instagram Friday.
Here is what to know.
What occurred to Peanut the Squirrel?
Peanut the Squirrel was taken from his dwelling in Pine Metropolis, simply southwest of Elmira, by the New York Division of Environmental Conservation on Wednesday morning. Peanut, also called PNUT, was the beloved pet of content material creator Mark Longo. In additional than 1,400 posts shared to Instagram, Peanut may be seen munching on waffles, leaping via hula-hoops, and greeting Longo dwelling from work.
Over the previous a number of days, Longo has shared a number of statements on Peanut’s Instagram account, conserving followers up to date, in hopes that Peanut could return dwelling.
“Peanut was one of the best factor that ever occurred to us,” Longo stated in a tear-filled video posted to Instagram Friday. “And we received affirmation that they put him down. I wish to proceed to combat this combat as a lot as I can…”
In response to Peanut’s seizure, a Change.org petition and GoFundMe marketing campaign have been created to “return him (Peanut)” to his household. As of Saturday morning, the petition had 35,589 signatures, and the GoFundMe has raised $36,323.
Who was Peanut the Squirrel?
Peanut was a rescue squirrel who had lived below Longo’s look after seven years.
Longo first related with Peanut when he noticed the squirrel’s mother get hit by a automobile, per earlier USA TODAY reporting. Sadly, the mom handed, leaving Peanut an orphan. Longo was unsuccessful to find a shelter that may take him in. Longo ended up feeding child Peanut for about eight months earlier than making an attempt to launch him again into the wild.
“I launched him within the yard, and a day and a half later, I discovered him sitting on my porch, lacking half his tail. So right here I’m, bawling my eyes out, like, I failed you as your human,” Longo advised USA TODAY in 2022. “And I type of opened the door, he ran inside and that was the final of Peanut’s wildlife profession.”
For the primary 5 years, Longo, Peanut, and Longo’s cat, Chloe, lived collectively in concord.
Final 12 months, Longo established P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine Metropolis. The nonprofit serves as a “haven the place uncared for and homeless animals obtain a second probability at life,” in line with its web site. Thus far, 18 horses, one mini horse, 4 cows, three alpacas, one parrot, one pig and two geese name the sanctuary dwelling, in line with its web site.
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Native lawmaker responds to euthanasia of Peanut the Squirrel
Congressman Nick Langworthy, who represents Chemung County within the twenty third Congressional District of New York, stated folks from across the nation have reached out to his workplace about Peanut the Squirrel’s seizure and euthanasia.
“Stories are that following their unannounced raid of a house in Chemung County, the DEC Brokers have gone forward and unnecessarily killed their animals,” Langworthy stated in a written assertion Friday. “The pet proprietor has not been afforded due course of, and now his pets are useless … I demand solutions and can push till the administration comes clear.”
Why do animals should be euthanized to check for rabies?
In accordance with the Facilities of Illness Management and Prevention, animals exhibiting indicators of rabies should be euthanized for the submission of specimen to a professional rabies laboratory for testing. It is because a rabies check features a “full cross-section of tissue from each the mind stem and cerebellum.” There are not any authorized strategies for testing rabies in animals ante-mortem.
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Is it authorized for squirrels to be stored as pets in NY?
The New York Division of Environmental Conservation states that it’s unlawful for younger wildlife to be stored as pets.
“Inappropriate care given to younger wildlife typically leads to irregular attachment to people,” the Division of Environmental Conservation states. “After launch, some return to locations the place folks dwell, solely to be attacked by home animals or to be hit by automobiles. Some turn out to be nuisances stepping into saved meals, trash cans or dwellings. And a few could also be thrust as unwelcome intruders into the house vary of one other member of their species.”
If a person finds a younger wild animal that’s injured or orphaned, the division recommends making a name to a wildlife rehabilitator, who “are the one folks legally allowed to obtain and deal with distressed wildlife.” The aim of rehabilitators is to securely launch the animal, when wholesome, again into the wild.
Emily Barnes studies on consumer-related points for the USA TODAY Community’s New York Join Group, specializing in rip-off and recall-related matters. Observe her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in contact at ebarnes@gannett.com.
