Public Outcry Over Euthanization of Peanut the Squirrel

The euthanization of Peanut the squirrel, a social media star, and Fred the raccoon by New York state authorities has sparked significant public outcry. Mark Longo, who rescued and popularized Peanut on social media, expressed his outrage after the animals were seized from his home and sanctuary by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and euthanized to test for rabies. The state acted following complaints of illegal and unsafe wildlife keeping, as owning wild animals without a license is against New York law. The incident gained further attention when a fake statement attributed to Donald Trump criticized the state's actions, which his campaign later clarified as false. Elon Musk also commented on the situation, amplifying the controversy on social media. Longo, who had been working to certify Peanut as an educational animal, has vowed to speak out against the state's decision and resource utilization, though he has not specified his next steps.