Recently there has been a lot of talk about Peanut the Squirrel’s seizure and subsequent euthanasia. For those who don’t know me, my name is Nessie and I am a raccoon biologist. Lately, I have been specifically researching the impact of social media on raccoons. I want to shed some light on what is actually happening with Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon.
Who was Peanut the Squirrel?
Peanut was a squirrel taken from the wild and cared for by Mark Longo for seven years. Longo found Peanut orphaned after a car hit the squirrel’s mother. Unfortunately, not being a trained wildlife rebilitator, Longo was unable to succesfully rehabilitate and release Peanut. From then on, Longo raised Peanut at home, turning the squirrel into a social media star and having him eat human food and perform tricks
Was Peanut the Squirrel Kept Illegally?
Yes, Peanut was kept illegally. In New York, it’s unlawful to possess a squirrel as a pet. Longo’s decision to post content featuring Peanut on social media brought public attention to this violation.
Why Was Peanut the Squirrel Euthanized?
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seized and euthanized Peanut to test for rabies. Decapitation of an animal is necessary to test for rabies.
(Out of professional mode, yes, having to test a squirrel for rabies is stupid. Idk what to tell y’all. It just is what it is.)
What happened to Mark Longo’s Raccoon?
Fred the raccoon was also seized and euthanized. Raccoons’ rabies vector status likely played a role in Peanut’s euthanasia, as most rabid squirrels got rabies from raccoons. Longo was apparently not planning on keeping the raccoon as a pet, but instead wanting to rehab and release it. However, as noted above, Longo is not a trained wildlife rehabilitor and had already failed in the past due to his lack of training.
Could Longo have gotten a permit for Peanut and Fred?
No. New York state does not issue permits for pet squirrels or raccoons. Wildlife possession permits for other purposes such as education and rehabilitation are not issued retroactively. For this reason, Longo did not qualify for a permit for Peanut and Fred in the first place.
What Responsibility Did Mark Longo Have Toward Peanut and Fred?
Ethically speaking, as an exotic pet owner, Longo had the responsibility to protect Peanut and Fred’s life, which meant adhering to legal requirements. By posting them on social media without the necessary permits, Longo put both animals at risk of euthanasia. Caretakers of exotic or wild animals must understand that ensuring legal compliance is a necessary aspect for ensuring the animals wellbeing.
Additionally, exotic pet owners have the responsibility to ensure their animals are getting proper veterinary care. When someone is keeping animals illegally, they cannot get vet care for the animals as no zoological medicine specialist will see an illegally kept animal.
Was Peanut the Squirrel put down because of the Democrats?
This is a weird question I have been asked dozens of times now, and the answer is no. Rabies is a bipartisan issue. The euthanasia of Peanut and Fred does not relate to any political party. Public health policies regarding rabies prevention are implemented across all states in the U.S., regardless of political affiliations. Wildlife laws aim to control disease risks and protect both human and animal populations. Every single state, whether they be “red” or “blue” has wildlife departments that will eagerly seize and euthanize illegally kept native species.
Why Wasn’t Peanut Sent to a Zoo, Sanctuary, or Wildlife Rehabber?
Ethical zoos and sanctuaries operate under strict guidelines and rarely accommodate illegally kept pets due to accreditation restrictions and capacity issues. Rehabilitation centers focus on animals that can be released back into the wild, and sanctuaries across the country are at capacity. Many states, like my own, also have laws in place prohibit us from accepting wild-caught animals.
Additionally, game departments are also hesitant to place seized, native animals elsewhere as they don’t want people thinking they can just hand a wild animal they were keeping over to a rehabber and it will be fine. This puts an incredible amount of stress on sanctuaries and rehabbers.
Were Wildlife Officers Justified in Seizing Peanut?
Legally, wildlife officers acted within their jurisdiction by seizing Peanut, an unlicensed, illegally kept wild animal. However, while their actions were legally sound, the manner in which they conducted the seizure was excessive and ultimately counterproductive from a public relations standpoint. The primary responsibility of a wildlife department is to manage and protect state wildlife. This includes enforcing laws around illegal pet ownership. But another aspect of their work is educating the public about these regulations and why they exist.
In this case, the wildlife officers should have approached the seizure with a smaller team. They also should have given clear public explanation of the laws governing illegal wildlife ownership and the consequences of publicizing it online. Instead, the aggressive response fueled public backlash and gave Peanut’s owner, Mark Longo, a platform to portray the laws as unfair and unnecessary.
Can Squirrels Get Rabies?
Yes, squirrels, like other mammals, can contract rabies. Squirrels rarely contract rabies. Their small size makes them more likely to die of the initial bite than live to contract rabies. Someone is more likely to get bit by a rabid opossum than a rabid squirrel.
Where Can I Own a Pet Squirrel?
When you have a permit and purchase the animal from a USDA licensed breeder, you can own a pet squirrel in Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dekota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Pet squirrels are legal in Arkansas with a permit and the squirrel is wild caught.
Owning a pet squirrel in South Carolina is legal without a permit. The squirrel must not be imported from other states and must be from the wild.
You cannot have a pet squirrel in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington DC, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington State.
