P’nut the Squirrel, a seven-year-old gray rescue with quite the online fanbase, met an unfortunate end this week after New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) swooped in to confiscate him. The agency claims the internet-famous squirrel had to be euthanized, alongside his housemate Fred the raccoon, to allow testing for rabies. Fans and followers from Instagram to TikTok were left reeling at the news, especially after seeing P’nut’s guardian, Mark Longo, post a tearful farewell on social media. Longo, clearly heartbroken, shared his feelings, stating that P’nut was “the best thing that ever happened to us.”
In his Instagram post, Longo poured out his sorrow, lamenting that he felt he’d failed his furry friend despite seven joyful years together. The heartfelt tribute struck a chord with P’nut’s fans, many of whom had followed his antics and adored the docile squirrel for his friendly nature. Longo, in his grief, didn’t hold back in asking his followers for support, launching a fundraising effort to help with an anticipated “legal battle” and support his nonprofit, P’Nut’s Freedom Farm.
The DEC, however, had its own narrative. According to their statement, the squirrel allegedly bit one of the DEC officers during the seizure at Longo’s Elmira home. This “incident” gave the agency the perfect excuse to proceed with euthanizing both animals for rabies testing, though P’nut’s docile nature had never been an issue in his public life. The agency’s statement, which urged anyone who’d been in contact with the animals to consult their physician, left fans questioning the necessity of this drastic measure.
P’nut’s journey to fame began in a far more heartwarming way. Longo, a Connecticut native, rescued the squirrel after witnessing his mother’s tragic demise in a car accident. Inspired by P’nut’s resilience, Longo even moved to upstate New York and founded “P’Nut’s Freedom Farm,” an animal sanctuary and rescue. But the story took a darker turn after a handful of anonymous complaints were filed with the DEC, claiming wild animals were living in Longo’s home.
Following the confiscation, Longo didn’t hold back his frustration on social media. Addressing the anonymous complainants, he wrote, “Well internet, you WON,” suggesting that this was the price of a few people’s unwarranted meddling. He saved his most biting words for those who reported him, stating there’s “a special place in hell” for them. As the DEC defended its actions, stating it was all in response to a “rabies vector species” complaint, fans of P’nut are left questioning whether all of this was really necessary for a squirrel beloved by so many.
