Peanut the Squirrel, a social media-famous pet with 534,000 followers, has been euthanized just days after being confiscated from his home in Pine City, New York. Peanut was seized by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County Department of Health to be tested for rabies after a person was reportedly bitten by the squirrel. Alongside Peanut, a raccoon was also taken from the property and euthanized for testing. Rabies testing in animals requires brain tissue, which means euthanasia is necessary, according to the CDC. Officials cited longstanding concerns about rabies in raccoons in New York’s Southern Tier, including Pine City, as further justification for the seizure. Peanut was raised by his owner, content creator Mark Longo, who rescued the squirrel after its mother was hit by a car. After an unsuccessful release attempt, Peanut returned to Longo’s doorstep and has lived as his companion ever since. Longo chronicled their life together on social media, sharing heartwarming moments of Peanut enjoying waffles, playing, and interacting with Longo and his other pets. In response to the seizure, Longo updated fans on Instagram, expressing hope that Peanut might be returned. A Change.org petition gathered over 28,000 signatures, while a GoFundMe raised nearly $8,000 to support the campaign. The DEC reiterated that keeping squirrels as pets is illegal, emphasizing the risks of domestication for young wildlife.