Mark Longo said on November 1, 2024, that there was still “a small chance” Peanut the squirrel could come home after New York wildlife officials seized him and a raccoon named Fred from Longo’s property. The update came before authorities announced that both animals had been euthanized following a reported bite during the seizure.
That timing matters: Longo’s message described an ongoing legal fight, not a recovery. Peanut and Fred were seized on October 30, 2024, and later tested negative for rabies.
What Longo said after Peanut was seized
Longo, who ran an animal sanctuary with Daniela Bittner in Pine City, near New York’s Pennsylvania border, told followers that his family was looking for legal help and hoped Peanut would be returned. A fundraiser for legal expenses had reportedly collected more than $7,000 by the time of the update, according to People’s report carried by Yahoo News.
Longo had rescued Peanut roughly seven years earlier after seeing the squirrel’s mother killed by a car in New York City. Peanut later became an internet personality. Videos showed him wearing tiny clothes, performing tricks and eating waffles on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms, as The Associated Press reported.
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Longo also said he was trying to have Peanut certified as an educational animal. That authorization had not been completed before the seizure, however. New York requires licensing or other authorization to possess wild animals; an animal’s popularity online does not by itself make private possession legal.
Why the New York DEC took Peanut and Fred
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said it had received multiple complaints about wildlife allegedly being kept illegally and potentially unsafely. The complaints included concerns about animals that could carry rabies.
DEC officers searched Longo’s property and seized Peanut and Fred. Longo initially said the search happened without a warrant. Later reporting based on investigative records said a judge had signed a search warrant authorizing the seizure of illegally possessed wildlife. That distinction is important because the warrant issue was widely misstated online during the initial backlash, as AP’s reporting and its later investigation explain.
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What happened to Peanut after the seizure?
According to the DEC and the Chemung County Health Department, Peanut bit a DEC wildlife biologist during the seizure. Because a bite from a potentially rabies-carrying wild animal can trigger an urgent public-health assessment, officials said Peanut and Fred were euthanized so their brain tissue could be tested for rabies.
Neither animal tested positive. The negative rabies results were publicly reported on November 12, 2024. Chemung County’s November environmental-health report also recorded negative results for both specimens.
That result did not reverse the euthanasia or settle the separate question of whether Peanut could legally be kept. Rabies testing requires brain tissue, which is why the animals could not simply be observed and returned after the incident under the procedure officials described.
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Why the story caused such a strong reaction
Peanut’s case collided with two very different views of wildlife ownership. Longo’s followers saw a familiar, humanized animal that had lived with people for years. Wildlife authorities treated Peanut as a wild species subject to possession rules and public-health procedures.
A squirrel can appear tame and still retain the ability to bite, carry pathogens or suffer from an unsuitable captive environment. Wild animals also have specialized dietary, social and housing needs that are easy for well-meaning owners to misunderstand. In New York, keeping one legally requires the relevant authorization; simply rescuing an animal does not automatically create a pet exemption.
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The case also showed how quickly an early social-media account can become accepted as the full story. Longo’s claim that officials lacked a warrant was repeated widely, but later reporting indicated that a judge had authorized the search. The November 1 update likewise reflected a hope that Peanut might return—not an outcome that ultimately occurred.
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What changed after the Peanut case?
Following the backlash, the DEC said it conducted an internal investigation and reviewed its policies and procedures. The Associated Press later reported that the agency planned changes including a new deputy commissioner role focused on public protection and development of a body-camera policy for officers.
New York lawmakers also introduced Senate bill S7011 on March 28, 2025. Called the “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act,” it proposed additional protections, appeal rights and due-process safeguards for animals cared for by registered sanctuaries. The bill’s introduction does not mean it became law. See the New York Senate bill text.
Longo and Bittner later filed lawsuits related to the seizure and euthanasia. One reported 2025 Court of Claims action sought $10 million from New York State, according to LegalClarity’s summary. Those filings contain allegations and requests for damages, not findings that have been proven in court.
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Peanut the squirrel timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| About 2017 | Longo said he rescued Peanut after finding the squirrel following its mother’s death. |
| October 30, 2024 | The DEC seized Peanut and Fred from Longo’s property after investigating complaints about wildlife possession and safety. |
| November 1, 2024 | Longo said there was still a small chance Peanut could be returned and that the family was seeking legal help. |
| After the seizure | Officials said Peanut bit a wildlife biologist. Peanut and Fred were euthanized for rabies testing. |
| November 12, 2024 | Rabies tests for both animals were reported negative. |
| March 28, 2025 | New York Senate bill S7011, “Peanut’s Law,” was introduced. |
What pet owners can learn from the case
- Check wildlife rules before taking an animal home. State and local rules may require permits, licensed facilities or transfer to a wildlife rehabilitator.
- Do not assume tame behavior means domestication. A hand-raised squirrel can still bite or react unpredictably when frightened.
- Use a qualified wildlife rehabilitator for injured wild animals. The right response is usually professional assessment and rehabilitation, not turning the animal into a household pet.
- Treat a wild-animal bite as a medical and public-health issue. Wash the wound immediately and contact a healthcare professional and local health department for guidance.
- Separate confirmed facts from developing claims. In Peanut’s case, the initial owner account, later warrant reporting and final rabies results did not all emerge at the same time.
FAQ
Was Peanut the squirrel returned to his owner?
No. Although Mark Longo said on November 1, 2024, that there was a small chance Peanut would be returned, authorities later euthanized Peanut after the seizure for rabies testing.
Why was Peanut euthanized?
Officials said Peanut bit a DEC wildlife biologist during the seizure. Peanut and Fred were euthanized so their brain tissue could be tested for rabies, a procedure officials described as necessary after the potential exposure.
Did Peanut have rabies?
No. Tests on Peanut and Fred were negative for rabies, with the results publicly reported on November 12, 2024.
Was it legal for Longo to keep Peanut?
Longo said he was seeking certification for Peanut as an educational animal, but that paperwork had not been completed before the seizure. New York requires licensing or authorization to possess wild animals, and social-media fame does not provide that authorization.
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Longo’s November 1 update captured the case before its final outcome: he still hoped Peanut could come home, but the squirrel was later euthanized after a reported bite during the DEC seizure. Peanut and Fred both tested negative for rabies. The case remains a major warning that rescued wildlife may need licensed care, and that online popularity does not replace the permits and safety procedures required for wild animals.
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