Social Media Star Peanut the Squirrel Seized by New York Authorities

State authorities have taken a beloved squirrel who boasts hundreds of on-line followers from his New York residence.

Peanut, whose identify can also be spelled P’Nut or PNUT, was seized by officers from the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation, based on a statement his proprietor, Mark Longo, printed on Peanut’s official Instagram account on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

“Immediately at 10am Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024… The NY State DEC confirmed as much as my home and took Peanut. He was TAKEN to the EUTHANIZED. Im in shock, disbelief, and disgusted to the individuals who did this to, PNUT,” the assertion learn.

In an announcement shared with PEOPLE, the DEC stated it carried out an investigation following “a number of experiences from the general public concerning the doubtlessly unsafe housing of wildlife that might carry rabies and the unlawful protecting of wildlife as pets.” 

The assertion added that the “DEC’s investigation is ongoing, and extra info will probably be supplied because it turns into obtainable.”

In response to the Associated Press, along with Peanut, the DEC additionally seized an injured raccoon named Fred, whom Longo had for just a few months and hoped to launch again into the woods.

Peanut has hundreds of views on all his social accounts, 533,000 followers on Instagram and 423,000 followers on Facebook.

In response to the Related Press, Longo took Peanut in seven years in the past after seeing his mom get hit by a automotive. Their bond is what impressed him to begin the P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in April 2023.

“For the final 7 years, Peanut has been my finest buddy. He’s been the middle of my world and lots of of yours for therefore lengthy, I don’t know the right way to course of this, emotionally,” wrote Longo in his Instagram assertion on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, he supplied an replace on Peanut’s Instagram Tales that learn, “I nonetheless have not heard from the NY state. I do not know the place Peanut is or if he is nonetheless with us.”

“I simply need to say thanks for the underside of my coronary heart for all of the assist yall have confirmed me and my spouse. That is an absolute tragedy and I’m praying we nonetheless have an opportunity,” he shared in one other Instagram post the identical day.

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Longo has created a Change.org petition and a GoFundMe campaign to boost funds to assist “cowl authorized charges for attorneys who will help us in addressing the harm brought on and making certain Peanut’s return to his loving residence.”