Two days after being taken from his home in New York, Peanut the Squirrel was euthanized, according to a Friday announcement by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Chemung County Department of Health. The agencies confirmed that a squirrel and a raccoon, confiscated on Wednesday, were euthanized to test for rabies after a person involved in the seizure was bitten by the squirrel.
The seizure of Peanut sparked public outcry, including a Change.org petition and a GoFundMe campaign calling for his return. By Friday afternoon, the petition had gained over 28,000 signatures, and the fundraiser had reached $7,875.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), testing for rabies requires euthanizing the animal to obtain brain tissue samples, as there are no approved methods for testing rabies in live animals.
Social Media Star ‘Peanut The Squirrel’ Euthanized, Elon Musk Responds: Peanut’s story began seven years ago when Longo rescued the orphaned squirrel after its mother was struck by a car. After unsuccessful attempts to find a shelter for Peanut, Longo cared for him until he could be released. However, when Peanut returned injured to Longo’s porch, the bond between them became unbreakable, and Peanut remained as part of Longo’s family. For years, Peanut lived peacefully with Longo and his cat, Chloe.
In 2022, Longo founded P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City, a nonprofit that provides shelter to abandoned and neglected animals, including horses, cows, alpacas, and other animals.
Keeping wild animals as pets is illegal in New York, where DEC officials recommend contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if an orphaned or injured animal is found. Wildlife rehabilitators are trained to care for distressed animals and safely release them back into their natural habitat.
This story was updated to correct minor spelling and grammar errors. Greta Cross contributed reporting for USA TODAY.
