Peanut's Euthanasia Spurs Crypto Surge and Outcry

Peanut the Squirrel, a social media star, was seized and euthanized by New York's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after allegations of illegal wildlife captivity and an alleged bite incident. Despite owner Mark Longo's insistence that Peanut was rabies-free, the decision to euthanize him was made to test for rabies, a process requiring decapitation. The test results for both Peanut and a raccoon named Fred returned negative, sparking public outrage and criticism of government actions which were perceived as overreach. This incident has led to significant public discourse, including reactions from high-profile figures like Elon Musk. Meanwhile, Peanut's story also inspired a meme coin, Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT), which saw a massive surge in value after endorsement from Musk and listing on major exchanges like Binance. The incident highlights tensions between wildlife regulations and personal animal care, as well as the influence of viral stories on digital markets.