The tragic fate of Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon, beloved Instagram stars cared for by Mark Longo, were euthanized by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation after complaints led to their seizure, despite tests showing they were rabies-free.
Peanut the squirrel, known as P-nut or Peanut, and Fred the raccoon were both well-loved and Instagram famous animals. Mark Longo, who owned and managed the Instagram account documenting the unique lives of these two creatures and took care of both animals. The account currently has over 500k followers and shared various reels of Longo feeding and playing with Peanut.
Though Mark Longo works in the construction and engineering fields day-to-day, one of his main passions is caring for animals. He even runs an animal refuge in Pine City, New York, named P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary. Through the website of his sanctuary, Longo details how he and Peanut became companions several years ago after Peanut had lost a part of his tail in an attack, and Longo aided him through his recovery.
Sadly, it was revealed by Longo in a post on Instagram on Nov. 1 that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) had both Peanut and Fred euthanized.
Longo stated, according to Today News, “Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief.” Afterward, the DEC disclosed that they received anonymous complaints about both Peanut and Fred, leading them to obtain a warrant and seize the animals.
Congressman Nick Langworthy was frustrated by the DEC’s decision and said, per Today News, “The NYS DEC needs a serious reality check on their ridiculously mistaken priorities. Instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County, where local officials have to struggle just to get permits from the DEC to clear debris-filled waterways, they’re out seizing pet squirrels. NY taxpayers deserve better.”
According to officials, a worker from the DEC who was present at the scene was bitten by the squirrel, which led to Peanut having to be taken for rabies testing. Rabies is a disease that mammals transmit through bite wounds, and the only way to test for rabies is to euthanize the suspected animal. Despite these claims, Longo denies that Peanut bit anyone.
Peanut and Fred’s test results recently revealed they were both negative for rabies. Longo said, "It’s no real big shocker to me, considering I lived with Peanut for seven-and-a-half years and Fred for five months. I’m not foaming at the mouth,...I knew the test results were going to be negative."
Mark Longo expressed anger at the complaints the DEC received about Peanut and Fred’s living conditions. He said, “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness…To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you.”
There is an internal investigation on the search and seizure of Peanut and Fred inside New York’s DEC. Today News confirmed the DEC stated, “DEC is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of wildlife across New York. An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission.”