Mark Longo, owner of Instagram-famous squirrel Peanut, is mourning the loss of his beloved pet.

On November 1, Longo took to Instagram to reveal Peanut was euthanized, along with his pet raccoon named Fred, by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

“Despite our impassioned cry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief,” he said online.

In light of the news, Congressman Nick Langworthy took to X to express his frustration with the way the DEC handled the situation.

He said, “The NYS DEC needs a serious reality check on their ridiculously misguided priorities. Instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County, where local officials have to scramble just to get permits from the DEC to clean up debris…filled waterways, they seize on pet squirrels, New York taxpayers deserve better.”

Read on to find out what happened to Peanut the squirrel and why he was euthanized.

Who is Peanut the Squirrel?

Peanut the squirrel is an internet sensation. He is the beloved pet of digital creator Mark Longo, who occasionally shares videos on Instagram of Peanut eating candy, jumping on clothes, and rushing around his house while doing various tasks throughout the day.

peanuts Instagram accountled by Longo, currently has over 500,000 followers. On his profile is a link to P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuaryan animal shelter named after his little furry friend.

According to the sanctuary’s official website, Longo met Peanut seven years ago when Peanut was a baby. After losing “half his tail in a severe attack,” Peanut wasn’t smart enough to live in the wild, so Longo decided to take care of the squirrel at home.

Who is the owner of Peanut the squirrel?

Content creator Mark Longo is the owner of Peanut the squirrel. In an interview he gave Elvis Duran and the Morning ShowLongo explained that he is also an engineer and works in construction.

One of his passions is taking care of animals while running a refuge for animals of Pine City, New York, which helps injured or abused animals in desperate need of care.

Why was Peanut the squirrel confiscated?

On Wednesday, October 30, Peanut the Squirrel and Longo’s other pet, a raccoon named Fred, were seized from his home by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to NBC News, the DEC received several anonymous complaints about Peanut and showed up at Longo’s home with “at least six officers” to take Peanut and Fred away.

In a joint statement, DEC and the Chemung County Health Department say they are “coordinating to ensure the protection of public health related to the illegal possession of wild animals that have the potential to carry the rabies virus.”

December also notes that it is illegal to keep young wild animals as pets because they are “not well suited for life in captivity. In addition, they can be carriers of diseases that can be transmitted to humans.”

After Peanut and Fred were taken, Longo accepted Instagram to call the people who made complaints to the DEC.

“Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals from me because of your selfishness,” he said online. “To the group of people who called DEC, there is a special place in hell for you.”

Why was Peanut the squirrel euthanized?

Peanut and Fred were both euthanized, and Longo said DEC informed the media about the animals’ deaths before his nonprofit, P’nuts Freedom Farm.

he says“this demonstrates a disturbing lack of respect and empathy. Their lives were precious and we refuse to accept this loss in silence.”

According to DEC and the Chemung County Health Department, Fred and Peanut were euthanized after a person involved in the investigation was bitten by Peanut.

“To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized,” they said in a joint statement. “The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is encouraged to see their doctor.”

After learning of Peanut and Fred’s death, Longo accepted Instagram to say he was in “deep shock and grief”.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com