Instagram Star Peanut the Squirrel Seized by New York Environmental Authorities

After seven years as a social media star, Peanut the Squirrel was seized by New York environmental authorities, who said the animal was being kept illegally. The squirrel’s dismayed human owner is now trying desperately to get him back.

Mark Longo, a 34-year-old animal sanctuary manager, says that environmental authorities recently came to his house and seized the squirrel. Peanut had lived with Longo for the better part of a decade and has long starred in his Instagram and TikTok videos. Longo’s videos often show the human-animal duo engaged in a variety of goofy antics, be it cuddling, playing, or eating waffles. In more than a few videos, Peanut wears costumes.

Disgruntled viewers of these videos apparently reported Longo to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and officials confiscated Peanut Thursday. The Associated Press reports that the officials also took Fred, a raccoon.

“Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” Longo wrote, in an Instagram post. “To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you.” “Im in shock, disbelief, and disgusted to the people who did this,” he said, adding that he thought Peanut would be euthanized by officials.

Under New York law, it is illegal to keep a wild animal as a pet, squirrels included. When reached for comment by Gizmodo, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provided the following comment:

“Following multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets, DEC conducted an investigation. DEC’s investigation is ongoing and additional information will be provided as it becomes available. New Yorkers who find a wild animal in need of assistance are advised to contact a DEC-licensed wildlife rehabilitator.”

The DEC did not clarify whether the government planned to euthanize Peanut, as Longo has claimed.

According to Longo, he rescued Peanut approximately seven years ago, after the squirrel’s mother died. Last year, Longo started an upstate animal refuge, dubbed P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, that was named after the squirrel. The sanctuary describes itself as a “haven where neglected and homeless animals receive a second chance at life,” and its website shows a variety of animals that are housed at the farm, including horses, geese, a macaw, cows, and a potbelly pig. The refuge describes Peanut as “the first squirrel to amass over 1 million, and then 2 million, followers on TikTok, with a combined social media following of over 3 million.”

Longo has started a petition asking that Peanut be returned to the sanctuary. It currently has over 18,000 signatures. Linked in the petition is a GoFundMe, which Longo has said will be used to “cover legal fees for attorneys who will assist us in addressing the damage caused and ensuring Peanut’s return to his loving home.”