Peanut, the star squirrel on social media with 546,000 followers, is euthanized

An orphaned squirrel who became a social media star nicknamed Peanut was euthanized after state authorities seized the beloved pet during a raid on his caretaker’s home, authorities said Friday.

After anonymous complaints, state Department of Environmental Protection officials removed the squirrel and a raccoon named Fred on Wednesday from Mark Longo’s home near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City, Longo said.

The DEC and Chemung County Health Department confirmed the fate of both animals on Friday.

“On Oct. 30, DEC removed a raccoon and a squirrel that were living with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, the squirrel bit the person involved in the investigation. Both animals were euthanized to test for rabies,” the agency said in a statement, CBS News in New York reported. “The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has had contact with these animals is strongly advised to consult their doctor.”

Neither agency responded to The Associated Press’ request for comment.

The peanut has garnered tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms in the seven years since Longo, who runs an animal shelter, said he took it in after seeing his mother get hit by a car in New York.

Peanut’s Instagram account shows the squirrel jumping on Longo’s shoulder, jumping through hoops, holding and eating waffles and wearing miniature hats.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the terrible news that on October 30, DEC made the devastating decision to euthanize our beloved squirrels, Peanut and Fred the raccoon. Despite our passionate appeal for compassion, the agency has chosen to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief,” said the Instagram post on Friday, which was accompanied by a video montage of the animals interacting with their smiling caretakers.

Longo and his wife, Daniela, opened the P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in April 2023. It now houses about 300 animals, including horses, goats and alpacas, Longo said. He said he was in the process of collecting the paperwork to get Peanut certified as a study animal when he was caught.