A squirrel named “Peanut” who was rescued by a man in New York has become an internet sensation after being adopted as an orphan. State authorities announced on Friday (November 1) that this small pet was discovered during their raid and was subsequently euthanized.
According to the Associated Press, Longo, who took in this little squirrel, stated that officials from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) took away the squirrel from his rural home in Pine City, located at the border with Pennsylvania, following several anonymous complaints they received on Wednesday (October 30). Also taken away was a raccoon named “Fred.”
CBS News reported that on Friday, the DEC and Chemung County Department of Public Health confirmed the fate of these two animals.
“On October 30, the DEC discovered a raccoon and a squirrel cohabitating with humans, which could lead to human exposure to rabies. Additionally, a person involved in the investigation was bitten by the squirrel,” the agencies stated in a release. “To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized.”
“These animals are undergoing rabies testing, and it is strongly recommended that anyone who has come into contact with them consult a doctor.”
Both agencies did not respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press.
A DEC spokesperson mentioned in a prior statement that the agency initiated an investigation upon receiving “multiple reports from the public, alleging that potentially rabid wildlife was being kept in unsafe conditions and wild animals were being illegally kept as pets.”
Longo, aged 34, currently operates an animal sanctuary. He mentioned that seven years ago, after witnessing Peanut’s mother being hit by a car in New York City, he took in the squirrel. After caring for it for eight months, he attempted to release it back into the wild.
“A day and a half later, I found it sitting on my porch, half of its tail missing, bones exposed,” Longo said, realizing that Peanut lacked survival skills in the wild and couldn’t fend for itself.
Subsequently, Longo posted videos of Peanut playing with his cat, and soon after, Peanut became an internet sensation. To date, it has garnered tens of thousands of followers on social platforms like Instagram.
Peanut is evidently not an ordinary squirrel. The Instagram account shows the squirrel jumping onto Longo’s shoulder, eating waffles, and even wearing a mini hat…
Longo and his wife Daniela opened the “P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary” in April 2023. Longo mentioned that the sanctuary currently houses around 300 animals, including horses, goats, and camels.
He mentioned that at the time Peanut was discovered, he was in the process of obtaining the necessary documents to certify it as an educational animal.