Squirrel Star Peanut's Surprising End

In remote Pine City, New York, a well-known squirrel named Peanut met a sad end. Peanut, who gained fame on social media with his caretaker Mark Longo, was euthanized after authorities seized him and a raccoon named Fred from Longo's home. This happened after some people complained, and officers from the state's department of environmental conservation (DEC) and the Chemung county department of health stepped in. Believe it or not, Peanut had tens of thousands of followers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. He was loved for his cute antics, like jumping through hoops and wearing miniature hats. Sadly, Peanut's journey ended because there was a risk of human exposure to rabies. A person involved with the investigation was even bitten by Peanut. To test for the disease, both Peanut and Fred were euthanized. Peanut's caretaker, Mark Longo, has been running an animal sanctuary for years. He took Peanut in after the squirrel's mother was hit by a car in New York City. Longo and his wife, Daniela, were shocked and grieving after the sad news. They had been trying to get Peanut certified as an educational animal, but the DEC stepped in before that could happen.