The union representing New York environmental officers defended the decision to remove Peanut the Squirrel and a raccoon from a Pine City home, as misinformation about the incident has led to threats of violence against staff.
Chemung County health officials ultimately decided to euthanize the animals after Peanut reportedly bit a biologist, raising rabies concerns.
The investigation began when wildlife rehabilitators reported that Peanut’s owner, Mark Longo, was keeping the animals illegally. Despite Longo’s claim that Peanut had been released, social media posts proved otherwise, prompting a search warrant.
The union reported escalating threats, including bomb threats and threats against DEC staff and an elected judge.
Longo’s sanctuary, P’Nuts Freedom Farm, has since raised over $225,000 in Peanut’s memory.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.