Current:Home > StocksThe man who took in orphaned Peanut the squirrel says it’s ‘surreal’ officials euthanized his pet -Momentum Wealth Path
The man who took in orphaned Peanut the squirrel says it’s ‘surreal’ officials euthanized his pet
View
Date:2025-04-16 15:55:25
NEW YORK (AP) — A man who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star vowed Saturday that New York state’s decision to seize and euthanize the animal “won’t go unheard.”
“We will make a stance on how this government and New York state utilizes their resources,” Mark Longo said in a phone interview.
He declined to specify his possible next steps but said officials would hear from him soon about what happened to Peanut the squirrel and Fred, a rescued raccoon that was also confiscated and put down.
AP AUDIO: The man who took in orphaned Peanut the squirrel says it’s ‘surreal’ officials euthanized his pet
AP correspondent Julie Walker reports the owner of a pet squirrel euthanized by New York officials after being seized wants justice.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation took the animals Wednesday from Longo’s home and animal sanctuary in rural Pine City, near the Pennsylvania border. The agency said it had gotten complaints that wildlife was being kept illegally and potentially unsafely.
State law requires people to get a license if they wish to own a wild animal. Longo has said he was working to get Peanut — also known as P’Nut or PNUT — certified as an educational animal.
The DEC and the Chemung County Health Department said Friday that the squirrel and raccoon were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit someone involved in the investigation.
Longo said Saturday that he didn’t see Peanut bite anyone during what he described as an hourslong, heavy-handed search. The authorities haven’t spoken with him since they left the property, he said.
“Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them,” he said.
A request for comment was sent to the DEC on Saturday.
Longo said he started caring for Peanut after the animal’s mother was hit by a car in New York City seven years ago. Tens of thousands of users of Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms glimpsed the animal sporting tiny hats, doing tricks and nibbling on waffles clutched in his little paws.
Longo said Fred the raccoon was dropped off on his doorstep a few months ago. After helping the animal recover from injuries, Longo said, he and his wife were planning to release the creature into the woods.
___
Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed. Follow Julie Walker on X @jwalkreporter.
veryGood! (62132)
Related
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs appeals to get out of jail ahead of federal sex crimes trial
- Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor’s Daughter Ella Is All Grown Up During Appearance at Gala in NYC
- A plane crashes on Catalina Island off Southern California coast
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Why a small shift in Milton's path could mean catastrophe for Tampa
- Johnny Manziel surprises Diego Pavia; says Vanderbilt's upset of Alabama 'feels like 2012'
- Erin Foster Reveals the Real-Life Easter Egg Included in Nobody Wants This
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Tuna is increasingly popular in the US. But is it good for you?
Ranking
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- As schools ban mobile phones, parents seek a 'safe' option for kids
- MLB's quadrupleheader madness: What to watch in four crucial Division Series matchups
- Record-Breaking Heat Waves Add to Risks for Western Monarchs
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Mega Millions winning numbers for October 8 drawing: Jackpot rises to $129 million
- A Celebration of Bella Hadid's Riskiest Looks: Sheer Dresses, Catsuits and Freeing the Nipple
- Lizzo Shares Insight Into Months-Long Progress Amid Weight Loss Journey
Recommendation
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
Lizzo Shares Insight Into Months-Long Progress Amid Weight Loss Journey
North Carolina lawmakers pass $273M Helene relief bill with voting changes to more counties
Why a small shift in Milton's path could mean catastrophe for Tampa
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Patrick says Texas Legislature will review Deloitte’s contracts after public loan project scandal
Dylan Guenther scores first goal in Utah Hockey Club history
In Florida Senate Race, Two Candidates With Vastly Different Views on the Climate