Peanut the Squirrel, a social media sensation with over 900,000 followers, has been confirmed rabies-free after being euthanized by New York state officials. Peanut, along with his companion Fred the Raccoon, was seized from owner Mark Longo’s home in Elmira on October 30. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducted the seizure after Peanut allegedly bit an investigator. According to DEC, rabies testing on wild animals requires euthanasia, as there is no approved method to test for rabies while an animal is alive.
Though the public initially believed Peanut and Fred’s euthanasia was a direct response to the bite incident, it has now come to light that the decision to euthanize was made a week prior. On October 23, New York’s State Department of Health had already determined that if any exposure occurred, euthanasia would be necessary to test for rabies, as per U.S. health protocols.
Longo expressed shock upon learning of the timeline, remarking to the New York Post, “I’m in utter shock… for now I’ll just say, ‘Wow.’” This revelation has fueled further public outcry, as fans and animal lovers continue to question the necessity of euthanizing the animals, particularly given their confirmed negative rabies status.
The incident has sparked nationwide debate, with advocates calling for alternative testing methods and procedural reforms to prevent such outcomes in the future, including proposals like “Peanut’s Law” to establish waiting periods for testing.
