Social media sensation Peanut the Squirrel has been euthanized following his seizure from a home in New York.

 Two days after being taken from his home in New York, Peanut the Squirrel has been euthanized.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County Department of Health announced on Friday afternoon that both a squirrel and a raccoon, confiscated during an investigation on Wednesday, had been euthanized for rabies testing. This decision followed a report that a person involved in the seizure was bitten by the squirrel.

Peanut, known affectionately as PNUT, was a social media sensation with 534,000 Instagram followers and the cherished pet of content creator Mark Longo. His account showcased over 1,400 posts featuring Peanut enjoying waffles, jumping through hula hoops, and welcoming Longo home from work.

The DEC and health department indicated that rabies has been a persistent issue in raccoons in New York’s Southern Tier, where Pine City is located, for more than 30 years.

In the days following Peanut’s seizure, Longo kept fans updated via his Instagram, expressing hope for Peanut's return. However, at the time of publication, he had not addressed the latest developments.

"This has been a terrible nightmare for me," Longo said in a video posted Friday morning.

In response to Peanut's removal, a Change.org petition and GoFundMe campaign were launched to advocate for Peanut’s return. By Friday afternoon, the petition had garnered 28,025 signatures, and the GoFundMe had raised $7,875.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animals exhibiting signs of rabies must be euthanized for testing, as rabies tests require a "full cross-section of tissue from both the brain stem and cerebellum." Currently, there are no approved methods for testing rabies in living animals.

The DEC and health department urged anyone who may have come into contact with the confiscated squirrel or raccoon to consult a physician.

Who Was Peanut the Squirrel?
Peanut was a rescue squirrel who had lived with Longo for seven years. Longo discovered Peanut as a baby after witnessing his mother get hit by a car. Unable to find a shelter willing to take him in, Longo cared for the orphaned squirrel, feeding him for eight months before attempting to release him into the wild. When Peanut returned to Longo’s home a day and a half later, missing half his tail, Longo realized he couldn’t let him go and welcomed him back into his life.

For the first five years, Longo, Peanut, and Longo’s cat, Chloe, cohabited peacefully. Last year, Longo established P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City, a nonprofit that provides a safe haven for neglected and homeless animals. The sanctuary currently houses 18 horses, one mini horse, four cows, three alpacas, one parrot, one pig, and two geese.

Attempts to reach Longo for an interview were unsuccessful.

Legal Status of Squirrels as Pets in New York
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation states that it is illegal to keep young wildlife as pets. They warn that improper care can lead to abnormal human attachment, which can put the animals at risk post-release. The DEC advises that anyone finding an injured or orphaned wild animal should contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, who can legally treat and eventually release the animal back into the wild.

This article has been updated to correct a grammatical error.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story ideas?