A social media-famous squirrel seized from its owner and euthanized by New York authorities tested negative for rabies, local officials said Tuesday.
Peanut, the furry social media sensation, along with a raccoon named Fred were seized by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County Department of Health on Oct. 30. The pair had lived at Mark Longo’s home and animal sanctuary in Pine City, near the Pennsylvania border.
The animals were euthanized two days later for rabies testing after Peanut bit a DEC worker involved in the investigation.
On Tuesday, Chemung County Executive Chris Moss announced at a news conference that tests on the two animals came back negative. Moss said that the county collaborated with the state and adhered to established protocols throughout the incident.
Peanut the Squirrel, with more than 910,000 Instagram followers, had been in Longo’s care for more than seven years. Longo said he was not surprised by the test results and that it proved what he was saying all along.
“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,” he said. “I knew the test results were going to be negative.”
Officials have faced a barrage of criticism for the seizure. Government workers said they have since faced violent threats.
The DEC said it had received complaints about wildlife being kept illegally and potentially unsafely.
The DEC and the Chemung County officials have said the squirrel and raccoon were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit a DEC worker involved in the investigation.
The DEC said in a prepared statement there was an internal investigation and that they were reviewing internal policies and procedures.
Longo accused the agency of using excessive force when they came into his home. He vowed to take legal action, posting on social media with the hashtag “#JusticeforPeanut.”
Following Peanut’s seizure, supporters launched a Change.org petition named “Call For Justice for Peanut the Squirrel and NYSDEC Reform” and a GoFundMe campaign to “In Hornor of Peanut and Fred.” As of Nov. 13, the petition had gathered 74,456 signatures, and the GoFundMe raised $232,097.
Who Was Peanut the Squirrel?
Longo first found Peanut as a baby after the squirrel’s mother was hit by a car and died, leaving Peanut orphaned. Unable to find a shelter to take him, Longo fed and cared for Peanut for about eight months before attempting to release him back into the wild.
However, Peanut returned a day and a half later, missing half his tail, prompting Longo to keep him.
Longo shared heartwarming photos and videos of Peanut on Instagram and TikTok, with the Peanut the Squirrel account amassing more than 910,000 followers on Instagram alone.
Last year, Longo founded P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City, a nonprofit described as a “haven where neglected and homeless animals receive a second chance at life,” according to the sanctuary’s website.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.