PEANUT the Squirrel’s owner fears the animal has been decapitated as its grieving family mourn the beloved pet.
The rodent became a martyr in the final days of the Trump campaign after New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently killed it.
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The DEC claimed it was forced to perform a rabies test and euthanise Peanut after it bit one of the officials who stormed the home.
But owner Mark Longo has told the NY Post he now fears that in order to do the rabies check on the brain they decapitated Peanut.
The 34-year-old said: “This is much bigger than a squirrel and a raccoon. This is about government overreach.
“We want justice for what transpired at my home. You violated my home. You assassinated my animals.”
He’s now hoping to give the animal a proper burial, but is worried the body may return to him in pieces.
Eight days later, no body has been returned and no results of the rabies tests has been given.
The thought of the tests make Mark shudder and he’s ready to sue the agency over it.
He said: “I’m hoping to give him a proper burial.”
The squirrel had become an internet sensation through his endearing antics and the close bond the pair shared.
Peanut, who soared to fame on Instagram and won the hearts of millions, was recently seized from his home and euthanized by New York conservation officials.
One of the officials involved in the raid was bitten by Peanut, after the agency received tip-offs that the creatures were “sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies”.
It is unclear when exactly they were put down, but Peanut’s owner Mark Longo has slammed the DEC as deserving of a “special place in hell”.
Its story has even caught the attention of the political world and it became a martyr in Donald Trump’s campaign.
On November 3, while campaigning in Sanford, North Carolina, Trump’s running mate JD Vance said the Republican White House nominee was “fired up” about Peanut’s death.
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He said told supporters: “The same government that doesn’t care about hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant criminals coming into our country, doesn’t want us to have pets. It’s the craziest thing.”
Mark has accused the agency of using excessive force when they came to his home and took Peanut and Fred on October 30.
He swore to take legal action in a social media post with the hashtag “Justiceforpeanut”.
As of November 7, a GoFundMe launched by Mark has so far raised $215,087 (£166,228).
In a tearful video shared on Peanut’s Instagram, Longo said: “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.
“I want to continue to fight this fight as much as I can but we need all of you to come together and help us.
“RIP MY BEST FRIEND. Thank you for the best 7 years of my life. Thank you for bringing so much joy to us and the world. I’m sorry I failed you but thank you for everything.”
Slamming the decision to put down his furry friend, Longo said: “Well internet, you WON.
“You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness.
“To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you.”
Peanut’s story
Peanut’s journey began in 2017 when Mark discovered him as a five-week-old orphan after his mother was hit by a car.
He nursed the young squirrel back to health, but when attempts to release Peanut back into the wild proved unsuccessful, he became a permanent member of Mark’s family.
Over the years, Peanut and Mark’s relationship blossomed, with the pair sharing domestic life and amusing adventures that captivated online audiences.
The squirrel was involved with everything from workout videos to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
NFTs are digital works, such as art or music, which are stored on the blockchain and cannot be replicated — so each NFT is unique to whomever owns it.
Peanut could open packages, cashew nuts and milk cartons all by himself, and is regularly seen climbing all over his owner.
Their connection inspired Mark to establish P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, an animal rescue organization named after his furry companion located in New York state.
Peanut has amassed more than three million social media followers.
He had an impressive 535,000 followers on Instagram and a further 424,000 on Facebook as of November 2024.
Peanut was also recognized as the first squirrel to gain over one million — and later two million — followers on TikTok.
On October 30, 2024, the DEC euthanized Peanut.
The agency said it put the squirrel down after he bit an official involved in the seizure.
They also euthanized a raccoon named Fred that they took from Mark’s property.
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