In brief
Peanut, a pet squirrel with hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, was confiscated by New York’s DEC amid concerns for his welfare. His caretaker seeks legal avenues to regain his beloved pet, while a petition for Peanut's return garners significant public support.
In a troubling turn of events for animal lovers, Instagram-famous squirrel Peanut has been seized by New York authorities, stirring outrage among his devoted followers. Mark Longo, the man who has cared for Peanut for the past seven years, expressed his anguish in an Instagram post after the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided his home on Wednesday. The DEC initiated the investigation following multiple reports alleging that Peanut was being housed in unsafe conditions.Longo vehemently criticized the informants in his post, stating, “To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you.” He revealed his concerns about Peanut's well-being, particularly fearing that the ash-colored rodent may have been euthanized during the raid. As the situation unfolds, an online petition demanding Peanut's return has gathered an impressive 20,000 signatures as of Friday morning.Throughout the day, Longo took to Instagram to discuss his plans to raise money for legal fees to challenge the DEC’s actions. However, the agency has been tight-lipped regarding the specific conditions of Peanut following the seizure. Reports suggested that the concerns stemmed from fears of rabies transmission and the legality of keeping wildlife as pets.Peanut’s journey began when Longo found the baby squirrel orphaned, its mother having fallen victim to a car accident. He nurtured Peanut until he was fit for release, but the spirited squirrel returned to his porch the next day with a piece of his tail missing. Over the years, Peanut has become an internet phenomenon, racking up over 500,000 followers on Instagram where fans adore videos of him engaging in playful antics and even donning whimsical hats.During the raid, DEC officials also confiscated another animal—a raccoon named Fred, which Longo had recently adopted. The fate of both animals remains uncertain, as the community watches and waits for a resolution. Peanut’s loyal fanbase continues to rally for his safe return, raising critical questions about animal welfare and the complexities of keeping wildlife as pets.
