A New York man who turned a rescued squirrel right into a social media star known as Peanut is pleading with state authorities to return his beloved pet after they seized it throughout a raid that additionally yielded a raccoon named Fred.
A number of nameless complaints about Peanut – additionally spelled P’Nut or PNUT – introduced no less than six officers from the state Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to Mark Longo’s residence on Wednesday, Longo mentioned.
“The DEC got here to my home and raided my home and not using a search warrant to discover a squirrel!” mentioned Longo,from Pine Metropolis. “I used to be handled as if I used to be a drug seller they usually had been going for medication and weapons.”
The officers left with Peanut, who has amassed tons of of 1000’s of followers on Instagram, TikTok and different platforms throughout his seven years with Longo. Additionally they took Fred, a more moderen addition to the household.
By Thursday evening, Longo had gathered almost 20,000 signatures urging the return of Peanut, and says he has employed a authorized staff to get Peanut again.
A spokesperson for the DEC mentioned in an announcement that the company had began an investigation after receiving “a number of stories from the general public concerning the probably unsafe housing of wildlife that might carry rabies and the unlawful preserving of wildlife as pets.”
Longo, who runs an animal refuge impressed by his squirrel buddy known as P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, took to Instagram to mourn Peanut’s loss and mentioned he fears that Peanut has been euthanised. “I don’t know if Peanut is alive,” he mentioned in a telephone interview on Thursday. “I don’t know the place he’s.”
The DEC spokesperson didn’t reply to a query about whether or not Peanut had been euthanised.
Longo mentioned he took in Peanut seven years in the past after seeing Peanut’s mom get hit by a automotive in New York Metropolis. Longo introduced Peanut residence and cared for him for eight months earlier than attempting to launch the squirrel. “A day and a half later I discovered him sitting on my porch lacking half of his tail along with his bone protruding,” Longo mentioned.
Longo determined that Peanut lacked the survival expertise to dwell within the wild and would stay an indoor squirrel.
Web fame adopted, after Longo posted movies of Peanut enjoying along with his cat.
An Instagram account devoted to Peanut reveals the animal leaping on to Longo’s shoulder, carrying a miniature cowboy hat, and consuming a waffle whereas carrying crocheted bunny ears.
Through the years Peanut’s story has been featured on TV and newspapers together with USA In the present day.
Longo, who works as a mechanical engineer, was residing in Norwalk, Connecticut, till he determined to maneuver to upstate New York final yr to start out an animal sanctuary. P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary opened in April 2023 and now homes about 300 animals together with horses, goats and alpacas, mentioned Longo, who runs the sanctuary along with his spouse, Daniela, and different members of the family.
Longo is conscious that it’s towards New York state regulation to personal a wild animal and not using a licence. He mentioned he was within the technique of submitting paperwork to get Peanut licensed as an academic animal.
“If we’re not following the foundations, information us in the best course to observe the foundations, you understand?” Longo mentioned. “Tell us what we have to do to have Peanut in the home and never have to fret about him getting taken.”
As for Fred, Longo mentioned he had had the raccoon for just a few months and hoped to rehabilitate the injured creature and launch him again into the woods.
Longo will not be the primary animal proprietor to protest towards the confiscation of a pet by New York authorities. A Buffalo-area man whose alligator was seized by the DEC in March is suing the company to get the 750lb (340kg) reptile again.
