Mark Longo found a baby squirrel in Manhattan about seven years ago after its mother was hit by a car. He didn't plan on becoming a viral sensation or a focal point for a national debate on government overreach. He just saw a tiny, shivering animal and decided to help. That squirrel became Peanut—or P'Nut—and eventually, Peanut the squirrel was euthanized by New York State authorities, sparking an internet firestorm that reached the highest levels of American political discourse. It’s a weird, sad, and deeply complicated story that honestly says more about our current culture than it does about wildlife regulations.
Most people saw the videos. Peanut wearing a little cowboy hat. Peanut eating a waffle. He had over 500,000 followers on Instagram. He was a pet, a roommate, and a brand all rolled into one. But under New York law, squirrels are considered "distressed wildlife," not domestic pets. You can’t just keep one in your living room because you want to. Longo knew this, or at least he should have, given he ran "P'Nut's Freedom Farm," an animal sanctuary in Pine City.
The Raid and the Rabies Scare
On October 30, 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) showed up at Longo’s home. They weren't there for a friendly chat. According to Longo, about ten agents raided his property, treated him like a criminal, and stayed for hours. They were acting on anonymous complaints. People had reported that Longo was keeping wildlife illegally and potentially unsafely.
The DEC and the Chemung County Department of Health eventually released a joint statement. They claimed they needed to seize Peanut and a raccoon named Fred because of the "human exposure to rabies." During the investigation, Peanut reportedly bit a DEC official. To test a squirrel for rabies, you have to look at the brain tissue. That means the animal has to be killed. There is no other way.
Was the bite real? Longo has expressed skepticism. But the law is pretty black and white here. If a wild animal bites a government agent during a seizure, the protocol for rabies testing is almost always triggered immediately. The tragedy is that squirrels are actually very low-risk for rabies. They almost never carry it. Yet, the bureaucracy moved forward with its rigid checklist.
💡 You might also like: Daniel Blank New Castle PA: The Tragic Story and the Name Confusion
Why This Became a Massive Political Flashpoint
The timing was everything. This happened right before the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Suddenly, a squirrel wasn't just a squirrel. He became a symbol of "government overreach." High-profile figures like Elon Musk and JD Vance weighed in. Musk posted on X that "Government overreach is a threat to our freedom," using Peanut as a martyr for the cause of deregulation and smaller government.
It’s wild how fast it escalated. You had people who didn't know Peanut existed five minutes ago suddenly screaming about the "police state" coming for our pets. On the other side, wildlife rehabilitators and biologists were trying to explain that these laws exist for a reason. Keeping wild animals as pets can be dangerous for the animal and the humans involved. It's a mess. Honestly, both sides have a point, which is why it stayed in the news for weeks.
The DEC’s perspective is basically this: We have rules to prevent the spread of disease and to protect wildlife from being "tamed" and then unable to survive in the wild. Longo’s perspective? He saved an orphan and gave it a life it never would have had, only for the state to kill it in a cold, clinical way because of a paperwork issue and a single bite.
The Legal Reality of Wildlife Rehabilitation
If you want to help animals, you've gotta play by the rules. New York is notoriously strict. To keep a squirrel legally, you generally need to be a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Even then, the goal is "rehab and release," not "rehab and make a TikTok star." Longo had reportedly been warned before.
📖 Related: Clayton County News: What Most People Get Wrong About the Gateway to the World
The DEC stated they had been investigating the situation for some time. They weren't just acting on a whim. They saw a high-profile case of someone openly flouting the law on social media. In their eyes, if they let Peanut stay, they’d have to let everyone keep wild animals. It creates a "precedent" problem.
What Most People Get Wrong About Rabies Testing
- The "Live Test" Myth: People kept asking why they couldn't just quarantine Peanut. For dogs and cats, we have observation periods. For wildlife? The CDC and state health departments don't recognize a quarantine period for squirrels. If there's a bite, the animal dies.
- The Risk Level: Yes, squirrels rarely have rabies. But "rarely" isn't "never" in the eyes of a health department facing a potential liability.
- The Bite: Some fans think the bite was fabricated to justify the killing. While we haven't seen bodycam footage, the DEC stood by the claim.
The Fallout for P'Nut's Freedom Farm
The sanctuary is still there. But the vibe has changed forever. Longo has used the momentum—and the heartbreak—to raise money and awareness for his cause. He’s become a vocal critic of the DEC. He’s also faced a lot of heat. Some people in the wildlife community feel he put the animal at risk by making it a public figure while knowing he didn't have the proper permits. It’s a tough spot. You want to love the guy for saving the squirrel, but you also have to wonder if things could have been handled differently before the raid happened.
The "justice for Peanut" movement led to several bills being proposed in the New York State Legislature. These "Peanut’s Laws" aim to change how the DEC handles non-commercial wildlife seizures, potentially requiring more transparency or different protocols before an animal is euthanized.
Lessons Learned and Next Steps
If you find yourself in a situation with a wild animal, don't just keep it. That’s the biggest takeaway here. As much as we want to be Disney princesses, the legal system isn't set up for that.
👉 See also: Charlie Kirk Shooting Investigation: What Really Happened at UVU
How to handle wild animals properly:
- Contact a licensed rehabilitator immediately. Don't wait until the animal becomes a pet. You can find lists on your state’s DEC or DNR website.
- Don't post it on social media. If you are keeping an animal illegally, the internet is the fastest way to get caught. Authorities monitor viral content specifically for this reason.
- Understand the "Rehab and Release" goal. The best thing for a wild animal is to be wild. If they can't be released, they usually need to go to a licensed educational facility, not a private home.
- Support legislative change. If you think the Peanut situation was a tragedy, look into local laws regarding wildlife. Advocate for "observation periods" for low-risk wildlife instead of mandatory euthanasia.
The story of how Peanut the squirrel was euthanized serves as a grim reminder of what happens when personal compassion hits the brick wall of government bureaucracy. It wasn't just about a squirrel; it was about how we value life versus how we value rules. If you find a baby animal, the kindest thing you can do is get it to someone who has the license to protect it from the state.
To prevent this from happening to other animals, check the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association to find professionals in your area. Familiarize yourself with your specific state's laws on "Class II" wildlife before you ever bring an animal into your home. Awareness is the only way to avoid another October 30th.