DEC Officers Seize and Kill Famous Squirrel In New York

Officials with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are under heavy scrutiny from all over the nation in the aftermath of what is being called a terrible trade strategy in the Empire State.

According to reports from the Associated Press, Newsweek, CNN, and dozens of other outlets, an orphaned squirrel with a huge social media following was seized by state law enforcement officials in a several-hour raid on an animal sanctuary that resulted in the squirrel being euthanized.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, officials from the DEC raided the Pine City, New York, property of Mark Longo, and took the squirrel. Longo told the Associated Press that DEC officers did not have a warrant for the raid, and they treated him as if he was dealing illegal guns and drugs.

Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon have both amassed a pretty large social media following, gaining millions of views every month through various social media sites like Instagram.

Why Did The DEC Take and Kill The Animals?

According to a post on Peanut The Squirrel's Instagram page, DEC seized the animal because it lived in unsafe conditions. Subsequently, it killed the animal after it allegedly bit an investigator to test it for rabies. The owners of the animal state that their living conditions were perfectly safe and note no other animals were taken from their property. As of Monday, November 4, 2024, no official press release has been made about this incident on the DEC website.

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This whole incident is turning into a major issue in the Empire State, as state officials' actions are being called heavyhanded and a massive abuse of state power. The firestorm will only increase as local governments attempt to exert more power over how people live their daily lives.