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The Tragic End Of P'Nut The Squirrel: 7 Shocking Facts That Led To His Euthanasia And 'Peanut's Law'

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The story of Peanut the Squirrel, the beloved social media star known to hundreds of thousands as P’Nut, remains one of the most controversial and heartbreaking wildlife incidents of the past few years. The eastern gray squirrel’s tragic death in October 2024 at the hands of New York state officials sparked an international firestorm, igniting debates over wildlife possession laws, government overreach, and the protocol for rabies testing. As of today, December 22, 2025, the fallout continues, with a multi-million dollar lawsuit and new legislation—dubbed "Peanut's Law"—currently making its way through the New York State Assembly.

This deep dive explores the full, complex narrative, from Peanut’s rescue to the viral controversy that followed his euthanasia, detailing the key players, the legal battles, and the profound legislative change his death has inspired. The details reveal a clash between rigid state regulations and the emotional bond between a man and the animal he saved, a conflict that ultimately cost two innocent lives.

The Central Figures: A Brief Biography of Peanut, Fred, and Mark Longo

The tragedy of Peanut the Squirrel involves a small cast of characters, each central to the viral story and its ongoing legal and political repercussions.

  • Peanut (P'Nut) the Squirrel: A male Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). He was rescued as a kit in 2017 after being found injured. He became an internet sensation, amassing a massive following on Instagram (P'Nut the Squirrel) and other platforms. He was seized and euthanized on October 30, 2024, by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The official reason was to test for rabies after he bit a DEC official. He was found to be rabies-negative.
  • Fred the Raccoon: A companion animal to Peanut, also illegally kept as a pet by Mark Longo. Fred was also seized by the DEC on October 30, 2024, and euthanized for rabies testing. Like Peanut, Fred was found to be rabies-negative.
  • Mark Longo: The owner and rescuer of Peanut and Fred, residing in Pine City, New York. Longo found Peanut as an injured kit in 2017. He and his partner, Daniela Bittner, are the primary plaintiffs in the $10 million lawsuit against the State of New York following the seizure and euthanasia of their pets. Longo has publicly described the DEC's actions as "government overreach."
  • Daniela Bittner: Mark Longo's partner and co-owner of the animals. She is a co-plaintiff in the ongoing legal action against the state.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): The state agency responsible for enforcing wildlife possession laws. They executed the seizure of the animals based on an anonymous complaint about illegal wildlife possession.

The Law, The Seizure, and The Controversial Rabies Protocol

The entire controversy hinges on a single, non-negotiable legal point in New York State: it is illegal to keep native wildlife, such as Eastern Gray Squirrels and raccoons, as pets without a specific license. Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner had rescued the animals but did not possess the necessary permits to keep them legally.

The Anonymous Complaint and DEC Action

The DEC's investigation was triggered by an anonymous complaint alleging that Longo was illegally possessing wildlife. On October 30, 2024, DEC officials arrived at Longo's home in Pine City to seize the animals.

The Fatal Bite and Rabies Testing Mandate

During the seizure, Peanut bit a gloved state wildlife biologist, causing a bleeding wound. Under New York state public health law, any wild animal that bites a human must be euthanized immediately for rabies testing to protect public safety. This protocol is mandatory, as rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear.

Both Peanut and Fred the Raccoon were seized and subsequently euthanized to test for the virus. The results, which came back after the animals were killed, confirmed that both Peanut and Fred were rabies-negative.

The Shocking Fallout: Lawsuits, Political Firestorms, and 'Peanut's Law'

The news of the euthanasia, particularly the negative rabies test results, immediately sparked international outrage. The story went viral across social media platforms, with hundreds of thousands of fans expressing horror and anger at the DEC's actions.

The $10 Million Lawsuit and 'Government Overreach'

Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner, represented by attorney Nora Marino, announced a lawsuit against the State of New York seeking $10 million in damages. Their legal argument centers on the claim that the DEC's actions were an unlawful killing and an act of "government overreach," particularly since the animals were beloved pets and social media personalities. The legal action aims to challenge the rigidity of the state's rabies protocol when applied to animals kept in a domestic setting, even if illegally.

The Political Firestorm

The controversy quickly escalated into a political issue, drawing comments from high-profile figures. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and prominent political figures like JD Vance publicly condemned the DEC's decision, framing it as an example of bureaucratic excess and misplaced priorities. The timing, close to a major US election, amplified the narrative of government power being wielded against private citizens and their pets.

The Birth of 'Peanut's Law'

Perhaps the most significant and lasting legacy of Peanut's death is the introduction of new legislation in New York State. Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz (R,C-Oyster Bay) authored a bill officially titled the "Humane Animal Protection Act," but popularly known as "Peanut's Law."

The proposed legislation aims to prevent similar tragedies by implementing a crucial change to the DEC's seizure protocol. "Peanut's Law" would specifically require a 72-hour waiting period before any animal seized from a licensed animal sanctuary or similar setting can be euthanized by the Department of Environmental Conservation. This waiting period would theoretically allow for legal redress or alternative solutions before a life-ending decision is made.

The Deeper Ethical and Health Questions

While the focus has been on the DEC's protocol, the story also raised deeper ethical questions about the welfare of the animals under Longo's care, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative.

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

Reports emerged that Peanut was suffering from severe malnutrition, which had caused a debilitating and painful illness known as Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). MBD is a common condition in pet squirrels whose diet lacks the necessary calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, often leading to fragile bones and significant suffering. This detail suggests that while Longo rescued and loved Peanut, the care provided may have inadvertently caused a serious health crisis, further complicating the public's view of the situation.

The Cost of Illegal Pet Ownership

The core issue remains the illegal possession of wildlife. While the public outcry sympathized with Longo's loss, wildlife experts consistently stress that keeping wild animals as pets is often detrimental to the animal's health and can pose a public health risk, which is the very reason for the strict state laws. The tragic fate of Peanut and Fred, despite being rabies-negative, serves as a stark warning about the irreversible consequences of violating wildlife conservation and public health laws, no matter how pure the intentions of the owner may be. The legacy of Peanut the Squirrel is now intertwined with the push for a more compassionate, yet still legally sound, approach to wildlife management in the state of New York.

The Tragic End of P'Nut the Squirrel: 7 Shocking Facts That Led to His Euthanasia and 'Peanut's Law'
euthanized peanut the squirrel
euthanized peanut the squirrel

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