The man who took in orphaned Peanut the squirrel says it’s ‘surreal’ officials euthanized his pet

NEW YORK — A person who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star vowed Saturday that New York state’s resolution to grab and euthanize the animal “will not go unheard.”

“We are going to make a stance on how this authorities and New York state makes use of their assets,” Mark Longo stated in a telephone interview.

He declined to specify his attainable subsequent steps however stated officers would hear from him quickly about what occurred to Peanut the squirrel and Fred, a rescued raccoon that was additionally confiscated and put down.

The state Division of Environmental Conservation took the animals Wednesday from Longo’s house and animal sanctuary in rural Pine Metropolis, close to the Pennsylvania border. The company stated it had gotten complaints that wildlife was being stored illegally and probably unsafely.

State legislation requires individuals to get a license in the event that they want to personal a wild animal. Longo has stated he was working to get Peanut — also referred to as P’Nut or PNUT — licensed as an academic animal.

The DEC and the Chemung County Well being Division stated Friday that the squirrel and raccoon have been euthanized in order that they might be examined for rabies after Peanut bit somebody concerned within the investigation.

Longo stated Saturday that he did not see Peanut chunk anybody throughout what he described as an hourslong, heavy-handed search. The authorities have not spoken with him since they left the property, he stated.

“Actually, this nonetheless type of feels surreal, that the state that I reside in really focused me and took two of essentially the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my home and simply killed them,” he stated.

A request for remark was despatched to the DEC on Saturday.

Longo stated he began caring for Peanut after the animal’s mom was hit by a automobile in New York Metropolis seven years in the past. Tens of 1000’s of customers of Instagram, TikTok and different social media platforms glimpsed the animal sporting tiny hats, doing tips and nibbling on waffles clutched in his little paws.

Longo stated Fred the raccoon was dropped off on his doorstep a couple of months in the past. After serving to the animal get better from accidents, Longo stated, he and his spouse have been planning to launch the creature into the woods.

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Related Press author Jennifer Peltz contributed. Observe Julie Walker on X @jwalkreporter.