Peanut the Squirrel, a social media star with over 500,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, was a beloved pet rescued by Mark Longo after his mother was hit by a car.
On October 30, 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) seized Peanut and a raccoon named Fred from Longo's home following anonymous complaints about potential rabies risk and illegal wildlife ownership. During the raid, Peanut allegedly bit an officer, leading to the euthanization of both animals to test for rabies.
