Why Was Peanut The Squirrel Euthanized By New York Officials? P'Nut's Death And The Internet's Reaction Explained

A heartbreaking incident has been widely circulating online after Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon, owned by content creator Mark Longo and his wife Daniela Longo, were euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) late last week.

This tragic decision to kill the animals sparked an outcry not seen since Harambe and led to discussions about pet ownership and animal rights as the controversy swept headlines over the weekend into today.

So what's the story behind this incident, why are people so worked up and why are there so many memes about it? Here's what happened with P'Nut's death and the massive backlash that ensued online.

Who Was 'Peanut The Squirrel'?

Peanut the Squirrel was a pet squirrel owned by the couple Mark and Daniela Longo, known for his charming personality and playful antics. Peanut was also a member of P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Pine City, New York that rescues neglected and homeless animals.

Featured on the Instagram account @peanut_the_squirrel12, which launched on April 17th, 2017, as well as his TikTok @peanut_the_squirrel12, Peanut captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of followers over the years with adorable photos and videos that showcased his life and adventures with his family.

How Did P'Nut Go Viral?

Peanut grew a massive fanbase over seven years, amassing more than 600,000 followers on Instagram and nearly a quarter of a million on TikTok. The pet squirrel gained popularity as the Longos posted videos of the P'Nut interacting with them, creating a loyal fan base that connected with their stories.

As recently as October 24th, 2024, Mark Longo shared clips of his eastern grey squirrel scurrying around his house and enjoying his favorite treats, such as frozen waffles.

Why Was Peanut The Squirrel Taken Away and Euthanized?

On November 1st, 2024, Mark Longo announced that Peanut and Fred were euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC). According to reports, the animals were seized over concerns about their ownership, with officials saying the animals were put down over "a risk factor in the spread of rabies" after Peanut reportedly bit someone involved in the investigation while they were removing him.

How Did the Internet React to Peanut The Squirrel's Death?

The news of Peanut’s death quickly sent shockwaves through social media, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans and animal lovers as he and Fred's deaths swept headlines online.

Many took to various platforms like Instagram and X / Twitter to express their sadness and voice their support for the owners. For example, X user Patrick Hedger posted a reaction image of an enraged Mel Gibson as a U.S. soldier after reading about the Peanut the Squirrel controversy.

Hashtags related to Peanut also went viral on X and TikTokers posted videos sharing their rage over the squirrel's death. For instance, TikTok user @spirit_of_1776 shared a video saying P'Nut's death is the perfect example of government overreach.

For the full history of Peanut the Squirrel be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.