In a surprising turn of events, New York state authorities have confiscated an Instagram-famous squirrel named Peanut from his owner, Mark Longo, during a raid at his home.
Mark Longo, a resident of Pine City near the Pennsylvania border, has found himself at the center of a controversy after state officers seized his pet squirrel, Peanut, along with a raccoon named Fred. The raid was prompted by multiple anonymous complaints concerning the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife, which could carry rabies, and the illegal ownership of wildlife as pets.
Peanut, also known by alternative spellings such as P’Nut or PNUT, had gained a significant following on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers over seven years. Longo, however, disputes the manner in which the authorities conducted the operation, describing it as overly aggressive and lacking a search warrant.
“The DEC came to my house and raided my house without a search warrant to find a squirrel,” Longo, aged 34, recounted in disbelief. “I was treated as if I was a drug dealer and they were going for drugs and guns.”
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) initiated an investigation after receiving reports from the public. Despite the attention Peanut garnered online, Longo is left fearing for his pet’s fate, worrying that Peanut may have been euthanized, a claim the DEC has declined to confirm or deny.
Longo explained that Peanut’s history began when he rescued the squirrel after its mother was hit by a car in New York City seven years ago. Initially, Longo intended to release Peanut back into the wild. However, Peanut returned home injured, at which point Longo decided the squirrel was unfit for survival outside, leading to Peanut becoming a permanent resident indoors.
In response to Peanut’s confiscation, Longo expressed his grief and anger on Instagram, blaming those who reported him: “Well internet, you WON,” he posted, “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’s plans to get Peanut certified as an educational animal were underway, but now he faces uncertainty about the future. Meanwhile, he also intended to rehabilitate the raccoon Fred for eventual release back into the wild, although Fred’s current status remains unresolved.
The incident is not isolated; earlier this year, another individual in New York faced legal challenges after an alligator was removed from his possession. Longo, who moved from Norwalk, Connecticut, to upstate New York to establish an animal sanctuary, manages P’Nuts Freedom Farm with his family. It houses numerous animals, including horses and alpacas, and reflects his passion for animal welfare. Longo acknowledges the law’s stance against maintaining wild animals without a permit and sought guidance to navigate legal channels appropriately.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between animal lovers and regulations designed to protect both wildlife and the public. As Longo awaits more information about Peanut’s condition and future, the situation raises questions about the balance between human-animal relationships and legal frameworks.
