Social Media Star Peanut the Squirrel Seized by New York Authorities

State authorities have taken a beloved squirrel who boasts hundreds of on-line followers from his New York house.

Peanut, whose identify can be spelled P’Nut or PNUT, was seized by officers from the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation, in response to a assertion his proprietor, Mark Longo, revealed on Peanut’s official Instagram account on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

“Right this moment at 10am Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024… The NY State DEC confirmed as much as my home and took Peanut. He was TAKEN to the EUTHANIZED. Im in shock, disbelief, and disgusted to the individuals who did this to, PNUT,” the assertion learn.

In a press release shared with PEOPLE, the DEC stated it carried out an investigation following “a number of experiences from the general public in regards to the doubtlessly unsafe housing of wildlife that would carry rabies and the unlawful conserving of wildlife as pets.” 

The assertion added that the “DEC’s investigation is ongoing, and extra info can be supplied because it turns into obtainable.”

In response to the Related Press, along with Peanut, the DEC additionally seized an injured raccoon named Fred, whom Longo had for a number of months and hoped to launch again into the woods.

Peanut has hundreds of views on all his social accounts, 533,000 followers on Instagram and 423,000 followers on Fb.

In response to the Related Press, Longo took Peanut in seven years in the past after seeing his mom get hit by a automotive. Their bond is what impressed him to start out the P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in April 2023.

“For the final 7 years, Peanut has been my finest pal. He’s been the middle of my world and plenty of of yours for therefore lengthy, I don’t know how one can course of this, emotionally,” wrote Longo in his Instagram assertion on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, he supplied an replace on Peanut’s Instagram Tales that learn, “I nonetheless have not heard from the NY state. I do not know the place Peanut is or if he is nonetheless with us.”

“I simply wish to say thanks for the underside of my coronary heart for all of the help yall have confirmed me and my spouse. That is an absolute tragedy and I’m praying we nonetheless have an opportunity,” he shared in one other Instagram put up the identical day.

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Longo has created a Change.org petition and a GoFundMe marketing campaign to lift funds to assist “cowl authorized charges for attorneys who will help us in addressing the harm brought about and guaranteeing Peanut’s return to his loving house.”