NY agencies receive bomb threats after Egernet’s death

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This story has been updated to include newly acquired information from the New York State Police about the number of bomb threats reported by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, in addition to the locations of the bomb threats.

In the days following New York’s decision to euthanize Peanut the Squirrel, fans, lawmakers and people who just learned about the star on social media are becoming increasingly outraged. In the past 48 hours, the government agency that seized and killed Peanut has received at least 10 bomb threats, and a New York representative is proposing a new law to protect sanctuary animals.

Peanut the Squirrel, who now has more than 784,000 Instagram followerswas euthanized to test for rabies on Friday, Nov. 1, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Chemung County Department of Health.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation confiscated Peanut from his home in Pine City, New York, on Wednesday, October 30. The seizure occurred due to “several reports from the public of potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and illegal keeping of wildlife as pets,” the department said in a statement. A raccoon known as Fred was also seized from Longo’s home and euthanized.

10+ bomb threats in 48 hours

Although any connection to Peanut’s euthanasia has yet to be determined, more than 10 bomb threats have been reported to various New York Department of Environmental Conservation offices in the past 48 hours, Governor Kathy Hochul’s office told USA TODAY Tuesday morning.

“Governor Hochul strongly condemns these egregious threats of violence and is grateful to the New York State Police for their work in investigating these threats and supporting the state’s workforce,” a statement from her office read.

On Tuesday evening, the New York State Police confirmed that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation has reported 12 bomb threats. Executive Director of Public Information Beau Duffy confirmed those offices are in Allegany, Bath, Buffalo, Cortlandville, Elmira, New Platz, New York City, Sherbourne, Stamford, Stony Brook, Syracuse and Tarrytown.

Duffy said all threats were deemed “not credible” and investigations were ongoing.

Of two threats reported Tuesday morning, the first was sent to branch office in Bath, New York, on November 3. and the other was sent to branch office in New Paltz, New York, on November 4. In both cases, New York State Police officers conducted thorough searches of the buildings and found no explosives. Investigations into both threats are ongoing, according to news releases from the New York State Police.

‘Peanut’s Law’

In response to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s actions, Republican New York Assemblymen Jake Blumencranz and Matt Simpson co-sponsored a new bill called the “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act.”

“What happened to Peanut was a tragedy and this heartbreaking event needs to be investigated,” Blumencranz said in a video shared on social media. “As a state legislator and an animal advocate, this tragedy can be an agent of change for our animal impoundment process and system.”

The purpose of the “Peanut’s Law” is to ensure the humane treatment of reserve animals and will serve as an amendment to Section 11-0511 of the New York law relating to the possession and transportation of wild animals.

According to a press release from the Office of Jake Blumencranz, highlights of “Peanut’s Law” include:

  • 72-hour waiting period: A 72-hour pause before euthanizing a sanctuary animal, giving sanctuary operators time to respond, arrange veterinary treatment and appeal
  • Emergency appeal rights: An Environmental Conservation Board will assess complaints within 48 hours and ensure that the matter receives immediate attention
  • Clear “Immediate Risk” criteria: Euthanasia can only bypass the waiting period if a licensed veterinarian confirms a direct risk to public safety
  • Transparent reporting: Department of Environmental Conservation will be required to publish quarterly reports on animal seizures and results of release tests within seven days if euthanasia occurs
  • Sanctuary recognition: Animal sanctuaries are registered, tax-identified entities and their rights to due process and humane treatment will be protected

On November 2, Blumencranz sent a letter to Hochul and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar asking for their support of the “Peanut’s Law.”

In an interview with USA TODAY on Tuesday, Blumencranz said he has been informed that Hochul is not interested in pursuing “Peanut’s Law” further.

“Unfortunately, the governor’s office and the people in the majority in the Assembly don’t see a problem,” Blumencranz told USA TODAY on Tuesday. “They say the protocol was followed, no problems occurred, and that’s just the way this process goes. My belief is that the protocols need to be changed, and at least the voices of the voiceless animals that have been euthanized in this process, need to be heard.”

USA TODAY reached out to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office for comment, but did not receive a response by deadline.

Who was Peanut the Squirrel?

Peanut was a rescue squirrel who had lived in owner Mark Longo’s care for seven years.

Longo first connected with Peanut when he saw the squirrel’s mother get hit by a car, as previously reported by USA TODAY. Unfortunately, the mother died, leaving Peanut an orphan. Longo was unable to find a shelter that would take him in. Longo ended up feeding baby Peanut for about eight months before trying to release him back into the wild.

“I released him in the backyard and a day and a half later I found him sitting on my front porch with half his tail missing. So here I am bawling my eyes out like I failed you as your human,” Longo told USA TODAY in 2022. “And I just opened the door, he ran in, and that was the end of Peanut’s wildlife career.”

For the first five years, Longo, Peanut and Longo’s cat, Chloe, lived together in harmony.

Last spring, Longo established P’Nut’s Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City. The nonprofit serves as a “paradise where neglected and homeless animals are given a second chance at life,” according to it website.

“We moved to a small town to start a nonprofit animal rescue called P’Nut’s Freedom Farm. We understood that this Internet sensation was a wave and we wanted to make it into something great, so we moved to New York from Connecticut. We .. have saved over 300 animals, all in Peanut’s name,” Longo said NewsNation’s Cuomo at the weekend. “Peanut is the center of our organization. I used his social media to raise funds to continue helping animals.”

Greta Cross is a national trends reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].