NEW YORK – A pet squirrel that gained fame on social media was euthanized by state wildlife officials as part of a rabies test.
The squirrel’s owner claims excessive force was used to grab his pet earlier this week.
Conservationists said it is illegal to possess the wild animal.
Owner Mark Longo has made Peanut the squirrel famous on social media for the past seven years.
In a video on his Instagram account, Longo said through tears, “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.”
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seized the pet on Wednesday, along with Longo’s raccoon Fred.
“Do you need that many officers?”
“On October 30, DEC seized a raccoon and a squirrel that shared a home with humans, potentially exposing humans to rabies. In addition, a person involved in the study was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized,” the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Chemung County Department of Health said in a statement. “The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has come into contact with these animals is strongly advised to consult their doctor.”
Longo said the attack on his home and farm, known as P’nuts Freedom Farm, lasted five hours.
“Do you need that many cops coming to my house and literally taking apart my closets?” Longo said.
Mark Longo/AP
Tens of thousands of signatures in an online petition demanded Peanut’s return by Friday afternoon, but wildlife is considered property in New York.
‘We were prepared to comply’
“People have good intentions. But it is generally illegal and highly unethical to keep a wild animal as a pet,” says Emily Einhorn of the Wild Bird Fund.
The Wild Bird Fund rescues, rehabilitates and releases wild animals, including squirrels.
“They live in trees. That’s what they should be in, it’s a tree. Not indoors,” Einhorn said.
The only way to legally rescue squirrels is to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitation organization, a process that can take months.
“That is followed by volunteering, interning and ultimately working at a wildlife rehabilitation clinic,” Einhorn said.
To legally own a domesticated wild animal, it must also be registered as an educational animal.
“We were ready to comply, we were ready to get the paperwork, we were working on that. We needed some guidance from the DEC,” Long said.
He said he plans to take legal action over what he considered excessive force in the raid.
