Why Social Media Famous Squirrel Peanut Was Seized By Authorities

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A squirrel named Peanut, who has amassed hundreds of thousands of social media followers, was seized by New York state authorities Oct. 30, according to its owner, Mark Longo.

By Will Reid Nov 01, 2024 6:45 PMTags

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A viral squirrel named Peanut is in a bit of a pickle.

The online sensation—who has amassed an audience of over 536,000 Instagram followers and more than 424,000 followers on Facebook—was seized by New York’s state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Oct. 30, his owner Mark Longo said on social media.

“The NY State DEC showed up to my house and took Peanut,” he wrote on Instagram. “He was TAKEN to [be] EUTHANIZED.”

“For the last 7 years, Peanut has been my best friend,” Longo continued. “He’s been the center of my world and many of yours for so long, I don’t know how to process this, emotionally.”

The critter amassed an internet following over the years with amusing videos such as performing tricks, modeling miniature fashions and eating waffles, among other quirky activities.

A spokesperson for the DEC told the Associated Press they began investigating the situation 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.”

However, the DEC did not confirm whether Peanut had been euthanized.

Officials also seized a raccoon named Fred, per the news outlet. Longo, who operates a wildlife shelter called P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, said Fred was injured and would be returned to the wild after being rehabilitated.

Instagram/Peanut the Squirrel

“It has been a terrible nightmare for me,” he told the AP in a phone interview, “but we still have 300 animals to take care of.”

Longo—who has started a GoFundMe page to fund his legal fight to reclaim Peanut—also said he was aware that owning a wild animal without a license is against New York state law, but said he was in the process of obtaining paperwork to certify the pet as an “education animal.”

“If we’re not following the rules, guide us in the right direction to follow the rules, you know?” he said. “Let us know what we need to do to have Peanut in the house and not have to worry about him getting taken.”

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