Peanut the Squirrel, a popular social media star with 534,000 followers on Instagram, has been euthanized just two days after being seized from his home in Pine City, New York. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County Department of Health confirmed the decision in a statement released on Friday afternoon, citing the need to test both a confiscated squirrel and raccoon for rabies. This action was prompted after a person involved in the investigation was bitten by the squirrel.
Peanut, affectionately known as PNUT, was the cherished pet of content creator Mark Longo. His Instagram account featured over 1,400 posts showcasing his playful antics, including munching on waffles and jumping through hula-hoops. The DEC and health department noted that rabies has been found in raccoons in New York’s Southern Tier, where Pine City is located, for more than three decades.
In the days following Peanut’s seizure, Longo kept fans updated through his pet’s Instagram account, expressing hope for Peanut’s return home. However, he had not posted any updates regarding the recent developments at the time of publication. “It has been a terrible nightmare for me,” Longo shared in a video posted Friday morning.
The outcry over Peanut’s seizure has led to the creation of a Change.org petition and a GoFundMe campaign aimed at bringing him back to his family. By Friday afternoon, the petition had garnered 28,025 signatures, and the GoFundMe campaign had raised $7,875, reflecting the widespread support for the beloved squirrel.
