Peanut the squirrel’s caretaker fears it was decapitated, plans to sue authorities

New York, United States

The Instagram-famous Peanut or P’Nut the squirrel might have been decapitated after New York wildlife officials seized it from the owner Mark Longo on October 30, fears Longo. 

The squirrel that became a sensation first and then a US election campaign talking point, was taken away from Longo and euthanised on November 1. 

Longo told the New York Post that he wishes a proper burial for the beloved pet. 

“I’m hoping to give him a proper burial,” he said.

He further said that he is planning a lawsuit against the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after they raided his home for the squirrel.

“But seven days later the body hasn’t been returned. No results of rabies tests have been given,” Longo said, whose pet was taken to be euthanised for rabies. 

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The DEC claimed it was forced to perform rabies tests on P’Nut and Longo’s pet racoon named Fred — and those tests require a sample from the subject’s brain.

This entire process fears Longo of the worst and he is ready to sue over.

“This is much bigger than a squirrel and a raccoon. This is about government overreach,” he said. “We want justice for what transpired at my home. You violated my home. You assassinated my animals.”

“I got wind of my animals being murdered through a news station,” Longo said. “I, as a New York State citizen, got my animals murdered by my own government, and my own government couldn’t call me to tell me what happened. I had to read it in a newspaper.

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Longo hasn’t heard from the DEC yet.

“Somebody needs to be held accountable for the massive overreach in power,” he added.

Peanut was rescued by Longo after its mother was run over by a car. Peanut has been with Mark for seven long years and is quite popular on Instagram. 

Since 2023, Mark and his wife Daniela have been running an animal sanctuary called P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary which has around 300 animals.

On October 30, the DEC “forcefully” seized two pets of Mark- Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon, as the department received complaints over “unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies.” After this, the authorities euthanised both the animals. 

(With inputs from agencies)