Mark Longo, a New York state resident, faced the unexpected confiscation of his pet squirrel, Peanut, an Instagram sensation, and a raccoon named Fred, following multiple anonymous complaints that spurred an investigation by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In a raid reported by CBS News New York, at least six officers arrived at Longo's Pine City home, near the Pennsylvania border, to seize the animals, which Longo decried as an action more befitting a narcotics raid than a wildlife rescue. "The DEC came to my house and raided my house without a search warrant to find a squirrel!" Longo told the publication.
Peanut, known for donning miniature cowboy hats and crocheted bunny ears in social media posts, had been with Longo for seven years, earning a following on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Longo, who fears Peanut may have been euthanized, said, "I don't know if Peanut is alive," in an interview conveyed by CBS News New York. The DEC spokesperson declined to confirm the squirrel's fate. Findings reported by The News-Item add that Longo's motivations for keeping the squirrel stemmed from a rescue scenario after Peanut's mother was fatally hit by a car in New York City.
Longo runs the P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, an Upstate New York refuge housing approximately 300 animals, including horses, goats, and alpacas. He and his family opened the sanctuary in April 2023. Despite being knowledgeable about the state's wildlife laws and working to get Peanut certified as an educational animal, Longo and Peanut found themselves on the wrong side of regulations. "If we're not following the rules, guide us in the right direction to follow the rules, you know?" Longo remarked to CBS News New York. This situation parallels another recent wildlife custody case in New York, where a Buffalo-area man is suing the DEC over his 750-pound alligator's seizure.
Peanut's popularity surged as videos and photographs featuring the indoor squirrel performing various antics circulated online. However, this fame could not shield him from the authorities' intervention, informed by concerns over rabies and the illegal possession of wildlife as pets, as conveyed by a statement obtained by CBS News New York. Alongside Peanut's unveiling, Fred the raccoon was also taken. Longo had harbored hopes to rehabilitate the temporarily taken-in raccoon and release him back to the wild, according to information provided by The News-Item.
