The $10 Million Tragedy: 5 Shocking Facts About The 'Assassination' Of Peanut The Squirrel

The 'assassination' of Peanut the Squirrel is not a simple animal welfare story, but a highly charged political and legal controversy that has gripped social media and led to a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the State of New York. As of late 2024 and into December 2025, the fallout from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) seizure and subsequent euthanasia of the beloved social media star continues to escalate, inspiring new legislation and a public outcry over government overreach. The core of the dispute centers on a conflict between New York State's strict illegal wildlife laws and the deep, public bond between a rescued Eastern Gray Squirrel named Peanut and his owner, Mark Longo, whose story of rescue, fame, and tragic end has become a rallying cry for animal lovers and political commentators alike. The legal battle is now focused on a massive $10 million claim for damages, ensuring the story remains a fresh and critical topic in the news cycle.

The Profiles: Mark Longo and Peanut the Squirrel

The controversy is inseparable from the lives of the two main figures: the human rescuer and the viral animal celebrity.

Mark Longo Biography Profile

• Name: Mark Longo
• Age: Approximately 34 years old
• Occupation: Mechanical Engineer, Content Creator, and Animal Sanctuary Owner
• Residence: Upstate New York (Chemung County), previously a resident of Norwalk, Connecticut
• Sanctuary: Founder of P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, named in honor of Peanut
• Key Role: Rescued Peanut the Squirrel in 2017 and raised him for seven years, turning him into a global social media sensation. He is the lead claimant in the $10 million lawsuit against the State of New York following Peanut's death. He also faced a possible gun charge related to the DEC raid.

Peanut the Squirrel (P'Nut) Biography Profile

• Species: Male Eastern Gray Squirrel (*Sciurus carolinensis*)
• Rescue Date: 2017
• Origin: Rescued as a kit after his mother was fatally struck by a car in New York City
• Fame: Became a viral social media star with a massive following due to his unique bond with Longo and his non-releasable status
• Seizure Date: October 30, 2024
• Death: Euthanized by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after his seizure, along with a rescued raccoon named Fred

The Seizure and Euthanasia: The DEC's Justification

The catastrophic event for Longo and his followers occurred on October 30, 2024, when DEC law enforcement officers raided Longo's Chemung County residence. The raid was reportedly prompted by a complaint and a recent news story that featured images of Peanut, a non-releasable squirrel, being kept as a pet.

The DEC's official justification for the seizure and subsequent euthanasia was the violation of New York State's strict regulations regarding the possession of "illegal wildlife". Under state law, Eastern Gray Squirrels are considered a wild, native species, and keeping them as pets without a proper license—which Longo reportedly lacked—is illegal.

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The agency argued that because Peanut had been kept for seven years and was non-releasable, it was impossible to place him in a licensed wildlife facility due to the risk of disease transmission and his habituation to humans. Therefore, the DEC concluded that euthanasia was the only viable option, a decision that ignited a firestorm of public backlash. The same fate was met by Fred the Raccoon, another rescued animal at P'Nuts Freedom Farm.

The Controversial Fallout: Lawsuits, Politics, and 'Peanut's Law'

The death of Peanut the Squirrel quickly transcended a local animal story, morphing into a national spectacle with political and legal ramifications that are still unfolding.

1. The $10 Million Legal Battle

The most significant and current development is the $10 million notice of claim filed by Mark Longo and his family against the State of New York. The lawsuit alleges wrongful death, constitutional violations, and emotional distress caused by the DEC's actions. This substantial claim is designed to seek justice for what Longo describes as the "murder" of his beloved pet and sanctuary namesake. The legal action is a direct challenge to the DEC's protocol and the state laws that classify rescued, non-releasable animals as illegal contraband.

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2. Political Firestorm and MAGA Controversy

The story became a flashpoint in the national political debate. The seizure and euthanasia were quickly picked up by conservative commentators, with some framing the DEC's raid as a symbol of government overreach and bureaucratic heavy-handedness. U.S. Senator J.D. Vance even publicly commented on the incident, jokingly asking if "the Democrats murdered the Elon Musk of squirrels," highlighting how the tragedy was co-opted into a broader political narrative about freedom and government authority.

3. The Push for 'Peanut's Law'

In response to the massive public outcry, New York lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. Dubbed "Peanut's Law," the proposed legislation seeks to create exceptions or a pathway for individuals who humanely care for non-releasable, non-dangerous native wildlife that cannot survive in the wild. The bill is a direct attempt to reform the rigid state protocols that led to Peanut’s death, ensuring that long-term, compassionate care is prioritized over immediate euthanasia.

4. DEC Protocol Review and Transparency Lawsuits

The Department of Environmental Conservation itself has acknowledged the controversy, announcing a review of its protocols for dealing with illegal wildlife after the seizure of Peanut. Furthermore, the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the New York State DEC to obtain records related to the controversial seizure and euthanasia. This action underscores the demand for transparency and accountability regarding the decision-making process that led to the death of the social media star.

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5. The Gun Charge Complication

Adding another layer of complexity to the already intense situation, Longo faced a potential gun charge stemming from the DEC's raid on his Chemung County home. DEC investigators reportedly seized a firearm during the search, though a final decision on pressing the charge was delayed. This detail further complicated Longo's legal standing and added to the dramatic narrative surrounding the state's aggressive enforcement actions.

What This Means for Animal Rescue and Illegal Wildlife Laws

The saga of Peanut the Squirrel has become a pivotal case study in the conflict between strict environmental conservation laws and the modern reality of animal rescue and social media fame. The outcome of the $10 million lawsuit and the fate of "Peanut's Law" will set a critical precedent.

If the Longo family is successful, it could force a major re-evaluation of how New York and other states handle non-releasable wildlife, potentially creating new legal protections for animals that have been humanely habituated in a sanctuary setting. Conversely, if the state prevails, it will reinforce the absolute authority of environmental agencies to enforce existing "illegal wildlife" statutes, regardless of an animal's public profile or the circumstances of its rescue. The memory of Peanut the Squirrel now serves as an enduring symbol of this complex, highly emotional, and legally charged debate.