:Peanut (squirrel)

{{Infobox animal

|name = Peanut

|image = Peanut the squirrel.png

|image_upright =

|landscape = yes

|caption = Peanut in 2020

|othername = P'Nut

|species = Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

|breed =

|sex = Male

|birth_date = {{circa|2017}}

|birth_place =

|death_date = c. {{death date and age|2024|10|30|2017}}

|death_place = Pine City, New York, U.S.

|death_cause = Euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

|resting_place =

|owners = Mark Longo and Daniela Longo

|residence = Pine City, New York, U.S.

|years_active = 2017–2024

}}

Peanut ({{circa|2017|{{wrap|October 30, 2024}}}}), also known as P'Nut, was a male eastern gray squirrel. Found and rescued as a kit by Mark Longo in 2017, he was the subject of a popular Instagram account. On October 30, 2024, Peanut was seized from Longo's home by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and euthanized soon after for rabies testing, which yielded negative results. Peanut's death created an outcry on social media, condemnation from various lawmakers, and the introduction of a bill aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

Life and social media

Peanut was a tamed eastern gray squirrel found and rescued in 2017 by Mark Longo. Longo was driving home from work{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} when he saw the squirrel's mother killed by a car in New York City.{{Cite news |last1=Mather |first1=Victor |last2=Jiménez |first2=Jesus |date=November 1, 2024 |title=After 7 Years, P'Nut the Squirrel Is Taken Away and Then Put Down |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/nyregion/peanut-squirrel-pet-seized.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |access-date=November 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111203927/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/nyregion/peanut-squirrel-pet-seized.html |archive-date=November 11, 2024 }}{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 1, 2024| title=New York state officials seize Instagram-famous squirrel named Peanut from owner |publisher=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/new-york-state-officials-seize-instagram-famous-squirrel-named-peanut-rcna178330 |url-status=live |access-date=November 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241101062648/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/new-york-state-officials-seize-instagram-famous-squirrel-named-peanut-rcna178330 |archive-date=November 1, 2024}} A mechanical engineer at the time,{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/01/us/instagram-famous-squirrel-peanut-seized-new-york-intl-scli/index.html | title=Instagram-famous squirrel named Peanut seized by New York state authorities | website=CNN | date=November 2024 }} Longo sought a shelter for Peanut but was unsuccessful, and he bottle-fed the squirrel for the next eight months before deciding that Peanut should be returned to the wild.{{cite web |title=Greenwich Guy's Viral Squirrel Videos Lead to Marriage, Sprawling Animal Sanctuary |url=https://greenwichfreepress.com/around-town/giving/greenwich-guys-viral-squirrel-videos-lead-to-marriage-sprawling-animal-sanctuary-220147/ |website=Greenwich Free Press |access-date=3 November 2024 |date=6 August 2024 |archive-date=November 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109065725/https://greenwichfreepress.com/around-town/giving/greenwich-guys-viral-squirrel-videos-lead-to-marriage-sprawling-animal-sanctuary-220147/ |url-status=live }} Longo released the animal into his backyard, but about a day later, he found Peanut on his porch with half of its tail missing. Longo said he "opened the door, [Peanut] ran inside, and that was the last of Peanut's wildlife career."{{cite web |last1=Moses |first1=Allison |date=16 July 2022 |title=Orphaned squirrel lives in New York home with a cat and the man who raised him |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/animalkind/2022/07/14/squirrel-forms-unbreakable-bond-man-who-raised-him/10059722002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=3 November 2024 |archive-date=November 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109010546/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/animalkind/2022/07/14/squirrel-forms-unbreakable-bond-man-who-raised-him/10059722002/ |url-status=live }} It is illegal to keep squirrels as pets in the state of New York, and no license was obtained to legally keep Peanut. Longo has stated that he was in the process of filing paperwork to have Peanut certified as an educational animal at the time of the seizure, however, he has not explained why he did not pursue a license in the preceding seven years.

While in his care, Longo created an Instagram account sharing videos of Peanut, and by October 2024 the account had amassed 534,000 followers.{{Cite news |last=Cross |first=Greta |date=November 1, 2024 |title=Social media star Peanut the Squirrel has been euthanized after being seized from NY home |website=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/01/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized/75992420007/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241102091700/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/01/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized/75992420007/ |archive-date=November 2, 2024}} Peanut's social media following also helped steer viewers to Longo's OnlyFans account, where he called himself "Peanut's dad"{{cite web |last1=Wickman |first1=Case |title=Why the Death of P'Nut the Squirrel Has Become a National Political Event |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/pnut-squirrel-trump-musk-election?srsltid=AfmBOoqTUYx6cBc-6Csc3wVgTrIng2_znvP_BKMNwpZDeNpPWNeTmZYy |date=4 November 2024 |website=Vanity Fair |access-date=6 November 2024}} and produced pornography, drawing in $800,000 over one month.{{Cite news |last=Helmore |first=Edward |date=2024-11-07 |title='P'Nut did not die in vain': How a celebrity squirrel became a harbinger of Trump's return |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/11/07/pnut-squirrel-became-harbinger-donald-trump-return/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} In April 2023, Longo and his wife moved from his hometown of Norwalk, Connecticut, to upstate New York to found the P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 2, 2024 |title=New York authorities euthanize social media star Peanut the squirrel |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/02/peanut-squirrel-euthanized-new-york |url-status=live |access-date=November 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241102173047/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/02/peanut-squirrel-euthanized-new-york |archive-date=November 2, 2024}} They contributed to half of the sanctuary's expenses, most of which was raised through Peanut's social media presence. According to them, the sanctuary had rescued over 300 animals by November 2024, however, Longo was not licensed as a wildlife rehabilitator.

Death

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) began investigating Longo in January 2024 after complaints were received from licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the area alleging that he was keeping wildlife illegally. In a press release, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBANYS), which represents the state's Environmental Conservation officers, stated that following the initial complaint, Longo was contacted by an Environmental Conservation Officer and warned that his ownership of Peanut was illegal, with Longo responding that the animal had been released into the wild.{{cite web |last=Supardi |first=Briana |date=8 November 2024 |title=DEC officers union says public misled in seizure and death of Peanut the Squirrel |url=https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/dec-officers-union-says-public-misled-in-seizure-and-death-of-peanut-the-squirrel-fred-raccoon-longo-outrage-chemung-county-ny-new-york-wrgb |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=WRGB Albany}}{{cite press release|title=State Environmental Conservation Officers' Union Calls for Calm in Wake of Wildlife Seizure|url=https://www.pbanys.org/pba/news-detail/press-release-state-environmental-conservation-officers-union-calls-for-calm-in-wake-of-wildlife-seizure/|publisher=Police Benevolent Association of New York State|date=November 8, 2024|access-date=November 19, 2024}} Longo later denied this in an interview with The New York Times, stating that he had no intention to set Peanut free and did not tell investigators that he had been released. The NYSDEC began its investigation after further complaints were received, leading an investigator to review Longo's social media accounts and discover that Peanut was still in his care, alongside a raccoon named Fred. The Chemung County Health Department (CCHD) Environmental Health Services received a complaint on October 19 regarding Longo's unlicensed animals and forwarded it to the NYSDEC, who confirmed on October 22 that they were aware of at least one squirrel and four raccoons being kept on the property illegally, having received three other complaints from the public on the same day.

On October 30,{{Cite web |last1=Cross |first1=Greta |date=1 November 2024 |title=Social media star Peanut the Squirrel has been killed after being seized from NY home |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/01/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized/75992420007/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=USA TODAY |archive-date=November 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105090312/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/01/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized/75992420007/ |url-status=live }} the NYSDEC took Peanut, along with Fred, from Longo's home in Pine City, New York.{{Cite web |last1=Santucci |first1=Jeanine |date=4 November 2024 |title=Is it legal to have a pet squirrel? Beloved Peanut the squirrel euthanized in New York |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/02/peanut-squirrel-euthanized-legal/76009885007/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=November 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241104191610/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/02/peanut-squirrel-euthanized-legal/76009885007/ |url-status=live }} The Longos' social media posts were the basis for the search warrant which led to the seizure. Two days later, the department said that on the day they came, Peanut bit a NYSDEC wildlife biologist through two pairs of gloves,{{cite news |last1=Nir |first1=Sarah Maslin |title=Did P'Nut Die for Nothing? Test Shows Squirrel Did Not Have Rabies. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/nyregion/peanut-squirrel-rabies.html |access-date=17 November 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114025055/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/nyregion/peanut-squirrel-rabies.html |archive-date=14 November 2024 |language=en |url-access=registration}} and the animals were euthanized to test for rabies,{{Cite news |last=Keleshian |first=Kristie| date=November 2, 2024 |title=Peanut, the Instagram-famous squirrel, euthanized by New York state authorities |work=CBS News |publisher=CBS New York |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/instagram-squirrel-peanut-seized-by-new-york-authorities/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241102091854/https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/instagram-squirrel-peanut-seized-by-new-york-authorities/ |archive-date=November 2, 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Howard |first=Jacqueline |date=November 2, 2024 |orig-date=November 1, 2024 |title=Instagram-famous squirrel euthanised by authorities |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33e75z83l0o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241103060114/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33e75z83l0o |archive-date=November 3, 2024 |access-date=November 2, 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Julie |date=November 2, 2024 |title=The man who took in orphaned Peanut the squirrel says it's 'surreal' officials euthanized his pet |url=https://apnews.com/article/peanut-pet-squirrel-seized-euthanized-45a4cba19e1c49cb0cd58fef0f140f0d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241102210752/https://apnews.com/article/peanut-pet-squirrel-seized-euthanized-45a4cba19e1c49cb0cd58fef0f140f0d |archive-date=November 2, 2024 |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=Associated Press |department=U.S. News}} as there are no ante-mortem rabies testing methods for animals approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.{{cite web |title=Information for Diagnostic Laboratories |url=https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/php/laboratories/diagnostic.html |website=Centers for Disease Control |publisher=United States Department of Health and Human Services |language=en-us |date=17 May 2024 |access-date=6 November 2024}} While squirrels do not typically carry rabies, the decision was made in light of Peanut's cohabitation with a wild raccoon, as raccoons are a common rabies vector.

Longo claimed that the NYSDEC used excessive force during the raid, which, according to him, lasted five hours. In an interview with TMZ, Longo stated, "They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer".{{cite web |title='Treated me like terrorist, drug dealer': Euthanised squirrel Peanut's owner says his house was ransacked for five hours |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/treated-me-like-terrorist-drug-dealer-euthanised-squirrel-peanuts-owner-says-his-house-was-ransacked-for-five-hours/articleshow/114899734.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=4 January 2025 |language=en |date=3 November 2024}} The PBANYS said in its press release that of the 12 personnel who executed the search warrant, only three were uniformed Environmental Conservation officers, who were mainly focused on securing the couple's {{convert|80|acre|ha|adj=on}} property and not seizing the animals. The other involved personnel were several plainclothes investigators who carried out the search and three NYSDEC wildlife employees. The union representing the NYSDEC's Environmental Conservation Officers said that it was the CCHD's decision to test Fred and Peanut, not the NYSDEC's.

On November 12, CCHD officials announced at a news conference that Peanut and Fred had tested negative and provided their rabies report forms to the public. They explained that the CCHD completed the rabies report forms and forwarded them to Elmira Animal Control to authorize the euthanasia at the request of the NYSDEC. The CCHD and Elmira Animal Control had been in contact with the NYSDEC and New York State Department of Health Zoonosis Program to discuss the animals prior to the seizure. Christopher Moss also stated that the county was unaware of Peanut's internet presence, though this would not have affected the outcome of the investigation.{{cite web|url=https://www.wivb.com/news/chemung-county-releases-rabies-test-results-regarding-peanut-the-squirrel/|title=Chemung County releases rabies test results regarding Peanut the squirrel|website=WIVB|date=12 November 2024|access-date=12 November 2024|first1=Kendall|last1=LeValley|archive-date=November 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113132931/https://www.wivb.com/news/chemung-county-releases-rabies-test-results-regarding-peanut-the-squirrel/|url-status=live}} The NYSDEC has not publicly verified Longo's claim of pursuing a wildlife rehabilitation license at the time of the seizure.

= Reactions =

Longo first announced the seizure on October 30 on Instagram. Longo stated that the decision to euthanize the squirrel "won't go unheard".{{cite news|agency= Associated Press|date= November 2, 2024|title= Man slams 'surreal' decision by N.Y. to seize, put down social media darling Peanut the squirrel| publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/peanut-squirrel-euthanize-1.7372034 |access-date=November 2, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241103144400/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/peanut-squirrel-euthanize-1.7372034 |archive-date=November 3, 2024}} Peanut's death triggered public backlash, social media outcry, condemnation from several lawmakers, and a proposed bill aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite web |date=2024-11-04 |title=Man who took in Peanut, the orphaned squirrel, says it's 'surreal' officials euthanized his pet |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/04/us/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized-intl-scli/index.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=CNN |language=en |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=November 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105090540/https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/04/us/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized-intl-scli/index.html |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |last1=Cross |first1=Greta |date=4 November 2024 |title=New York's decision to seize, euthanize Peanut the Squirrel is a 'disgrace,' owner says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/04/peanut-the-squirrel-mark-longo-new-york-euthanized-pet/76043660007/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=November 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105021157/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/04/peanut-the-squirrel-mark-longo-new-york-euthanized-pet/76043660007/ |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |last1=Duley |first1=Megan |date=2024-11-04 |title=Here's Why the World Is Outraged over New York Squirrel's Death |url=https://wibx950.com/outrage-over-peanut-the-squirrel/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=WIBX-AM (950) |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105091133/https://wibx950.com/outrage-over-peanut-the-squirrel/ |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2024 |title=P'Nut the Squirrel euthanized, owner says 'someone was out to get me' - CUOMO |url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/cuomo-show/pnut-the-squirrel-euthanized-owner-says-someone-was-out-to-get-me-cuomo/ |access-date=November 6, 2024 |website=NewsNation |language=en}}}} The incident has been criticized as an example of excessive government intrusion into personal lives and pet ownership rights.{{Cite magazine |last=Wickman |first=Kase |date=2024-11-04 |title=Why the Death of P'Nut the Squirrel Has Become a National Political Event |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/pnut-squirrel-trump-musk-election?srsltid=AfmBOooN2wLFPZjVbSSlwYQdjemuXW0MQeaJyqs03z3Px_jI1vUnAOv9 |access-date=2024-11-06 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Woislaw |first=Daniel |date=2024-11-04 |title=Government kills pet squirrel P'Nut in Fourth Amendment horror story |url=https://pacificlegal.org/government-kills-pet-squirrel-pnut-in-fourth-amendment-horror-story/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Pacific Legal Foundation |language=en-US}} The union claimed in a press release that social media misinformation surrounding the case had led to threats of violence against NYSDEC staff, with New York State Police confirming ten bomb threats had been made against NYSDEC facilities in the days following Peanut's death.

The death of Peanut was used as a cause célèbre by the MAGA movement, who blamed it on Democrats.{{cite web |last1=Kukreti |first1=Shweta |date=2 November 2024 |title=Who was Peanut? Huge row erupts in US as social media star squirrel euthanised; MAGA converts tragedy into election ploy |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/who-was-peanut-huge-row-erupts-in-us-as-social-media-star-squirrel-euthanised-maga-converts-tragedy-into-election-ploy/ar-AA1tnARW |website=Microsoft Start |access-date=5 November 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Kaloi |first1=Stephanie |date=4 November 2024 |title=Conservative Social Media Rallies Around Peanut the Euthanized Squirrel |url=https://www.thewrap.com/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized-maga-conservatives-republicans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241127171555/https://www.thewrap.com/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized-maga-conservatives-republicans/ |archive-date=27 November 2024 |access-date=4 November 2024 |website=The Wrap}} Several prominent Republican figures complained about the killing of the squirrel, with some Trump campaign supporters claiming that the Biden-Harris administration was too firm regarding licenses for owning wild animals like squirrels as pets.{{cite web |last1=Faguy |first1=Ana |title=Trump 'fired up' about euthanasia of Peanut the squirrel |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj3l1zyj93o |website=BBC News |date=November 4, 2024 |access-date=4 November 2024 |archive-date=November 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241104121039/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj3l1zyj93o |url-status=live }} Both New York governor Kathy Hochul and Vice President Kamala Harris turned down a request to comment on the incident.{{cite web |title=US Elections 2024 {{!}} How the death of a celebrity squirrel became a Republican rallying cry |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/world/us-elections-2024-how-the-death-of-a-celebrity-squirrel-became-a-republican-rallying-cry-3262196 |date=5 November 2024 |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=6 November 2024 |language=en}} On CNN, commentator Scott Jennings condemned the government's actions, stating "This squirrel was squirrelnapped and murdered by the state of New York, an absurd abuse of government overreach. There are 40 million rats or more in New York, and they executed the only one trained to wear a cowboy hat and had an Instagram account"{{Cite news |date=November 3, 2024 |title=Justice for Peanut, the social media influencer squirrel |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/03/politics/video/newsnight-justice-for-peanut-the-social-media-influencer-squirrel |work=CNN}} and pointed to it as an example of government overreaching while ignoring its core responsibilities. The Republican vice presidential candidate of the 2024 U.S. election, JD Vance, posted on X that "Don is fired up about P'Nut the squirrel"; the official Trump campaign TikTok account also condemned Peanut's death.{{cite news |last1=Hassan |first1=Jennifer |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/05/peanut-squirrel-election-euthanized-threats/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |url-access=registration |access-date=6 November 2024 |title=Republicans call to 'avenge' Peanut the squirrel's death at ballot box |archive-date=November 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105173436/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/05/peanut-squirrel-election-euthanized-threats/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Nir |first1=Sarah M. |date=4 November 2024 |title=How the Death of a Celebrity Squirrel Became a Republican Rallying Cry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/04/nyregion/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized-trump.html |website=The New York Times |url-access=registration |access-date=6 November 2024 |archive-date=November 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105192833/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/04/nyregion/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized-trump.html |url-status=live }} Donald Trump Jr. stated "Justice for Peanut! Our government will let in 16,000 rapists, they will let in 13,000 murderers, they will let in 600,000 criminals across our border, but if someone has a pet squirrel without a permit, they will go in there and kill the squirrel. That is the Democrat Party. That's where they will go. That's their overreach."{{cite web |last1=Roy |first1=Yash |title=How P'nut, a euthanized squirrel, entered the political fray |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4971334-how-pnut-squirrel-entered-political-fray/ |website=The Hill |access-date=4 January 2025 |language=en |date=4 November 2024}} Congressman Nick Langworthy stated his irritation with the NYSDEC, saying that "instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County, where local officials have to struggle just to get permits from the NYSDEC to clear debris-filled waterways, they're out seizing pet squirrels."{{cite web |last1=Jeffrey |first1=Joyann |date=4 November 2024 |title=Why was Peanut the squirrel euthanized? The controversy explained |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-peanut-squirrel-euthanized-controversy-214808322.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=3 November 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Forbes |first1=Ahjané |date=2 November 2024 |title=Social media users weigh in on Peanut the Squirrel being euthanized: 'This can't be real' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/02/peanut-the-squirrel-euthanized-social-media-reacts/76010292007/ |website=USA Today |access-date=3 November 2024}} Elon Musk commented that "Government overreach kidnapped an orphan squirrel and executed him."{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-11-02 |title=Squirrel Kerfuffle: Trump's Comment On Peanut Is Fake News |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/squirrel-kerfuffle-trump-s-comment-on-peanut-is-fake-news-2664d294 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Barron's |agency=Agence France Presse |language=en-US}} Jake Blumencranz, a New York State Assemblyman from Long Island's 15th Assembly District, has proposed a bill called "Peanut's Law: Humane Animal Protection Act", an amendment to the New York State Environmental Conservation Law limiting government animal seizures.{{cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/state/2024/11/nys-assemblyman-introduces-peanuts-law-after-beloved-squirrel-is-euthanized.html|title=NYS Assemblyman introduces Peanut's Law after beloved squirrel is euthanized|website=Syracuse.com|date=5 November 2024|access-date=6 November 2024|first1=George|last1=Herbert}} Speaking at an annual dinner event hosted by the Federalist Society, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch mentioned the squirrel as an example of the negative impact of abuse of government power. Gorsuch also alluded to Longo's OnlyFans account, a possible "sordid side" of the case.{{Cite web |last=Schonfeld |first=Zach |date=November 14, 2024 |title=Gorsuch invokes P'nut the squirrel in Federalist Society dinner keynote |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4992094-gorsuch-invokes-pnut-the-squirrel-in-federalist-society-dinner-keynote/ |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=The Hill}} On November 16, Sarah Sherman portrayed Peanut's widow for a bit during Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live.{{Cite web |last=Gariano |first=Francesca |date=2024-11-17 |title=Peanut the squirrel's widow mourns the loss of husband in nutty 'SNL' sketch |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/peanut-the-squirrel-widow-snl-rcna180520 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Today |language=en}}

References

External links

{{Instagram|id=peanut_the_squirrel12|name=Peanut the Squirrel}}
[https://501c3lookup.org/pnut-s-freedom-farm-animal-sanctuary-inc_932182780 Information on the US IRS 501(c)3 Organization P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary]

Category:2010s animal births

Category:2024 animal deaths

Category:2024 controversies in the United States

Category:Animal deaths by euthanasia

Category:Animal deaths in the United States

Category:Animal-related controversies

Category:Animals on the Internet

Category:Individual animals in the United States

Category:Individual squirrels

Category:Instagram accounts

Category:Law enforcement controversies in the United States

Category:November 2024 in the United States