Peanut the Squirrel Taken from His Home by Officials

Peanut the Squirrel, a social media star from Elmira, NY, was taken from his “home” by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Wednesday. Officials served a warrant and removed Peanut, along with a pet raccoon, after receiving complaints about “unlawfully possessed” animals. The DEC collaborated with the Chemung County Health Department, citing the presence of a “rabies vector species” as the reason for the seizure.

Peanut’s human, Mark Longo, expressed his devastation on social media. “Well internet, you WON,” read the post from Peanut’s popular 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’s a special place in hell for you.” Longo also shared his disbelief that the agency might euthanize his cherished pet and companion.

Longo first rescued Peanut seven years ago when he found the squirrel as a baby after its mother was hit by a car. Since then, Peanut has gained a large following, with 532,000 Instagram fans, over 423,000 followers on Facebook, and millions of views on TikTok. The attention Peanut received helped Longo raise awareness and funds for his nonprofit, P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, an animal sanctuary he founded after moving to Elmira in 2023.

Despite the popularity of Peanut and the sanctuary’s mission, the state agency has not clarified whether Peanut or the raccoon will be euthanized. In response, Longo has posted contact numbers for DEC officials, urging his followers to protest and fight for Peanut’s return.

P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing animals from harmful situations, now faces an uncertain future. “With over 350 rescues, we’ve relied heavily on PNUT and his internet family to gather donations to help more animals,” Longo wrote. He shared concerns about how the sanctuary will continue to operate without Peanut’s influence. Supporters have started a petition, hoping to bring Peanut back to his rightful home.

Please sign this petition to Urge Authorities to Implement Speed Enforcement Along Roadways Near Wildlife Habitats!

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