Peanut, also known as P’Nut, was a rescued eastern gray squirrel whose death became a national political flashpoint in the days before the 2024 U.S. election. New York wildlife officials seized Peanut and a raccoon named Fred from a private residence on October 30, 2024. Both animals were euthanized for rabies testing after officials said Peanut had bitten a person involved in the investigation and Fred was a rabies-vector species. Peanut later tested negative.
For many Trump supporters, the case came to represent government overreach and excessive regulation. For wildlife officials and public-health authorities, it involved the intersection of wild-animal ownership, sanctuary rules, and rabies-control procedures.
What happened to Peanut the squirrel?
Mark Longo said he rescued Peanut after seeing the squirrel’s mother struck by a car in New York City. Peanut later lived with Longo and his wife, Daniela Bittner, who operated P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, an animal sanctuary in Pine City, Chemung County.
Peanut developed a substantial social-media following. Videos showed him interacting with people and living in a domestic setting, which made him unusually recognizable for a wild animal. That online popularity became central to the public reaction after authorities removed him.
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On October 30, 2024, officers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, working with the Chemung County Department of Health, seized Peanut and Fred from the couple’s residence. The DEC said it was investigating reports involving potentially unsafe wildlife housing and the illegal possession of wild animals as pets.
Officials said Peanut had bitten a person involved in the investigation. Fred was a raccoon, a species considered a rabies-vector species. Officials said both animals were euthanized so they could obtain tissue for rabies testing.
On November 12, 2024, a Chemung County official said Peanut had tested negative for rabies. The DEC said it had opened an internal investigation and was reviewing its policies and procedures.
Why did the case become a MAGA issue?
The story spread rapidly through conservative media and social platforms. Trump supporters recast Peanut’s death as evidence that government agencies were willing to destroy a beloved animal over paperwork and bureaucratic rules.
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That interpretation connected with a broader 2024 Republican campaign message about reducing government regulation. Elon Musk described the case as government overreach and linked it to the anti-bureaucracy ideas surrounding Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency. JD Vance also invoked Peanut during a November 3, 2024, rally in Sanford, North Carolina.
The official Trump campaign TikTok account posted “RIP Peanut,” called the squirrel’s death the work of “Democrat bureaucrats in New York,” and urged voters to “avenge” Peanut at the ballot box. The post reportedly attracted millions of views.
The backlash was not limited to political criticism. New York DEC offices and employees received angry messages, death threats, and bomb threats. Reports said at least 10 state offices received emailed bomb threats on November 4, 2024. Authorities did not report finding explosives.
What the authorities did—and did not—say
Several widely shared claims about the case were inaccurate. The basic facts are easier to understand when separated from the political messaging.
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| Claim | What the available reporting shows |
|---|---|
| Peanut was euthanized because he was confirmed rabid. | Incorrect. Officials said euthanasia was used to obtain tissue for rabies testing after a reported bite and because Fred was a raccoon, a rabies-vector species. Peanut later tested negative. |
| The federal government or Biden administration killed Peanut. | Incorrect. The seizure involved New York State DEC officers and the Chemung County Department of Health. |
| Donald Trump said New York had “executed” Peanut and Fred. | Unsupported. Fact-checkers found that a widely circulated graphic attributing that statement to Trump was fabricated, and the Trump campaign said it was fake. |
| Officials acted solely because Peanut was popular online. | There is no evidence for that. The DEC cited complaints involving wildlife possession and housing, along with the reported bite and rabies-testing concerns. |
Why rabies testing affected the outcome
Rabies is a serious public-health concern, and a possible exposure can require prompt assessment. In this case, officials said Peanut had bitten a person involved in the investigation and Fred was a raccoon, a rabies-vector species.
Officials said the animals were euthanized so they could obtain tissue for rabies testing. Peanut’s subsequent test was negative. The available reporting does not say that officials had confirmed Peanut was rabid before the test.
Was Peanut legally allowed to be kept as a pet?
New York generally restricts private possession of wild animals without the required authorization. Longo and Bittner had taken steps toward becoming licensed wildlife rehabilitators, but records reviewed by the Associated Press indicated that the sanctuary’s regulatory status remained unresolved when Peanut and Fred were seized.
The DEC had reportedly known about the sanctuary since at least January 2024. Its concerns later included Fred’s presence in the home. A raccoon living in a household presents different health, behavioral, and legal risks from a domesticated dog or cat, even when an individual animal appears friendly.
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For pet owners, the important distinction is that rescue does not automatically make a wild animal a legal pet. A person may save an injured or orphaned animal and still need to transfer it to a permitted rehabilitator. Wild animals can also carry diseases, suffer from inappropriate diets or housing, and become dangerous as they mature.
What happened after the backlash?
The controversy continued beyond the 2024 election. New York lawmakers introduced bills called Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act in 2025. The proposed measures would add due-process protections for animals housed by sanctuaries and, in specified circumstances, create a 72-hour waiting period before euthanasia.
As of the latest legislative listings available in 2026, New York Senate bill S7011 and Assembly bill A7388 were listed as active bills rather than enacted law. The proposals therefore should not be described as current law.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What pet owners can learn from the case
- Do not assume a wild animal can legally be kept because it was rescued. Contact the relevant state wildlife agency or a licensed rehabilitator before bringing an orphaned or injured animal home.
- Do not handle wildlife casually. Even an animal that accepts food or cuddles can bite unpredictably, especially when frightened, sick, or being moved.
- Report bites promptly. Wash the wound with soap and water and contact a medical professional and local health department. Do not wait for an animal to appear ill.
- Check the rules before opening a sanctuary. Licensing, enclosure standards, veterinary records, transport rules, and public-contact requirements can all apply.
- Verify viral claims before sharing them. The Peanut story produced fake statements, misleading political graphics, and inaccurate claims about who ordered the seizure.
FAQ
Was Peanut the squirrel rabid?
No. A Chemung County official said on November 12, 2024, that Peanut tested negative for rabies. Officials said he was euthanized to obtain tissue for testing after a reported bite.
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Who seized Peanut and Fred?
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officers, working with the Chemung County Department of Health, seized the animals from Mark Longo’s residence on October 30, 2024.
Did the federal government kill Peanut?
No. The available reporting identifies New York state and county authorities, not the federal government or the Biden administration, as the agencies involved.
Can I keep a rescued squirrel as a pet?
That depends on wildlife laws where you live, but rescuing a squirrel does not automatically make private ownership legal. An orphaned or injured wild animal may need to be transferred to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
The Bottom Line
Peanut’s death became a MAGA rallying point because supporters saw it as a symbol of government overreach. The underlying case involved New York officials investigating a wildlife facility whose regulatory status was unresolved, seizing a squirrel and raccoon, and euthanizing them for rabies testing after a reported bite and other concerns. Peanut’s test was negative; claims that he was confirmed rabid, killed by federal officials, or targeted simply for being famous are not supported by the available evidence.
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