Peanut the Instagram Squirrel's Fateful End: What Really Happened
- Written by Jessica Kroell
- Reading Time: Approximately 3 Minutes
Insta-Famous Squirrel: Transition from Social Media Sensation to Perceived Security Threat - Instagram personality deemed a potential security threat
What led to the demise of Peanut, the beloved Instagram squirrel? This question has been buzzing in the minds of its owner, Mark Longo, and the global community since the passing of the social media sensation. The affairs surrounding Peanut's death caused a big stir last year. In late October, employees from the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the environmental protection agency, visited Longo's farm in Pine City, New York, and took both Peanut and a raccoon named Fred. Sadly, both animals met an end, having been sedated for rabies testing.
Recently disclosed documents provide further insights into the ordeal. According to these documents, reports about illegal wild animals, including a "squirrel unfit for release into the wild," were made to the authorities as early as January 2024. Initially, the authorities paid little attention to the case. In May, an agency employee attempted to contact Longo, but Peanut was temporarily housed in Connecticut at the time. Upon returning, more complaints were made. In a file note, an officer is quoted as saying: "A judge will never grant us a search warrant for a squirrel. Unfortunately, it's not a major criminal offense; it's just an infraction."
Judge Sanctions Search Warrant
The scenario changed with the arrival of Fred, the raccoon, and the revelation that Longo did not possess the necessary license to house wild animals, as suggested by the documents. In October, a woman contacted the authorities, reporting that Longo was keeping "a raccoon confined in a small cage in his home, and I follow him on TikTok." DEC employees scrutinized Longo's social media videos and then contacted the local health department, requesting that the animals be tested for rabies precautionarily, which would necessitate their euthanasia for brain tissue examination.
The county subsequently questioned the state health department, who advised that the animals should be tested if a risk of rabies existed. A week prior to the search, the county wrote to the DEC: "We presume that all 'wild' animals in the house must be euthanized and sent for rabies testing, due to close contact with humans." A judge then authorized a search warrant to seize illegally kept wild animals.
As the report reveals, the agency had previously attempted to find a wildlife sanctuary that could temporarily shelter Peanut. At the same time, they prepared alongside local animal rescue services for a possible euthanasia.
Peanut, the Famous Instagram Squirrel, Bites a Wildlife Biologist
On October 30, a team of a dozen employees raided Longo's property. The vivacious Instagram star Peanut was discovered in a bathtub, while Fred the raccoon was imprisoned in a suitcase. Longo reportedly begged officers to spare Peanut, as it served as a crucial source of income for the farm. "He admitted that they would sedate it," the report claims.
When a wild animal bit a wildlife biologist through a thick leather glove, causing a wound that bled, it seemed that Peanut's fate was sealed. Environmental agency employees then contacted the health department. There, an employee opted to test both animals as a precaution, citing direct contact with humans in the household and Peanut biting someone as reasons. "Although squirrels usually do not transmit rabies, cohabitating with a raccoon (a species known to transmit rabies) opened the possibility of animal-to-animal transmission, placing the wildlife biologist at risk," an official statement read.
County officials also stated that they had to adhere to the state's rabies protocols. "Sadly, this had to be done," read an email that same afternoon. "The poor animals did nothing wrong."
Although the rabies tests were conducted promptly, the results were not disclosed to the public for nearly two weeks. Both animals were discovered to be in good health.
Watch the video above: Peanut, the squirrel, was a social media sensation for seven years. Now, the animal was euthanized. Observe how the famous rodent lived with its owner, Mark Longo
References: Associated Press, "Star-Gazette," Published Government Documents
- Squirrel
- Mark Longo
- Raccoon
- USA
- Safety risk
- DEC
- Despite being a beloved Instagram squirrel with over seven years of social media success, Peanut was euthanized due to a safety risk related to potential rabies exposure.
- Mark Longo, Peanut's owner, pleaded with officials to spare the animal as it provided significant income for his farm, but his request was denied.
- The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) had been monitoring Longo's property since receiving reports of illegal wild animals, including a "squirrel unfit for release into the wild," since January 2024.
- With the addition of a raccoon named Fred, the authorities secured a search warrant and raided Longo's property in October, eventually euthanizing both Peanut and Fred for rabies testing.
- heartbreakingly, both animals were found to be in good health after the tests were conducted, causing widespread outrage among Peanut's followers and animal lovers worldwide.
- While the infamous incident shed light on the relationship between wildlife and pet ownership, it also sparked discussions about the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the field of wildlife handling.
- The sad story of Peanut, the Instagram squirrel, not only serves as a poignant reminder of the precious bond between humans and pets, but also underscores the importance of responsible pet ownership and adhering to the laws and regulations surrounding wildlife.
