New York DEC offices report multiple bomb threats after the death of a beloved squirrel

NEW YORK (TNND) — The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reported at least 10 bomb threats in one day, with the threats soon after Peanuta popular squirrel, was seized by the agency and euthanized.

No later than Tuesday evening, state police confirmed the threats were reported by the DECwith offices located in Syracuse, Bath, Buffalo, Tarrytown, New Paltz, Sherburne, Allegany, Cortland, Stony Brook and New York City.

State police said they searched the offices but found no explosive devices. They added that none of the threats were considered credible.

While the alleged threats happened in the wake of Peanut’s death, it’s unclear if they were related to the controversy surrounding the animal.

Either way, Peanut’s owner, Mark Longo, said he’s devastated.

Longo claimed there were several anonymous complaints about Peanut — also spelled P’Nut or PNUT — with at least six DEC officers raiding his home on Oct. 30. He said the officers took Peanut, as well as Fred, a raccoon he had rehabilitated.

Longo, who runs an unauthorized animal sanctuary inspired by Peanut called P’Nut’s Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuarysaid he is shocked and disgusted. He said he rescued Peanut seven years ago after he saw the squirrel’s mother fatally hit by a car.

He brought Peanut home, where he rehabilitated the animal for eight months before attempting to release the squirrel back into the wild.

“A day and a half later I found him sitting on my front porch missing half of his tail with his bone sticking out,” Longo said.

Longo decided that Peanut lacked the survival skills to live in the wild and would remain an indoor squirrel—and an Instagram star was soon born.

Longo continues to write to the account. Per On October 31, he had a little more than 530,000 followers on Instagram.

Now the account is up to 830,000 followers.

The DEC and Chemung County Health Department said Friday that the squirrel and raccoon were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit a person involved in the investigation.

Longo said Saturday that he did not see Peanut bite anyone during what he described as an hours-long, heavy-handed search. Authorities have not spoken to him since they left the property, he said.

“Honestly, it still feels surreal that the state I live in actually targeted me and took away two of the most beloved animals on this planet, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just beat them to death,” he said.

A DEC spokesman previously said in a statement that the agency launched an investigation after receiving “several reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.”

A change.org request demanding justice for Peanut has nearly 70,000 signatures. While the petition originally called on DEC to return Peanut to Longo, it has since been amended and now calls on supporters “to stand with us in demanding accountability from DEC and New York State government.”

“We must advocate for a more compassionate approach to wildlife management to ensure that no other animal suffers such a fate,” according to the petition. “Together we can amplify our voices and fight for the change that is badly needed.”

The petition also noted that a GoFundMe account was also set up to help Longo with legal fees amid his fight to get Peanut back.

“Your contributions will go directly toward these essential legal costs and help us return Peanut to the loving environment he deserves,” according to the petition. “Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference and brings us one step closer to reuniting Peanut with his home.”

P’Nut’s Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary opened in April 2023 and now houses about 300 animals, including horses, goats and alpacas, said Longo, who runs the sanctuary with his wife, Daniela, and other family members.

Longo is aware that it is against New York State law to own a wild animal without a license. He said he was in the process of submitting paperwork to get Peanut certified as an educational animal.

As for Fred, Longo said he only had the raccoon for a few months and hoped to rehabilitate the injured creature and release him back into the wild.

State police said an investigation into the bomb threats is underway. They urged anyone with information to contact Troop F headquarters at 845-344-5300.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: WRGB and The Associated Press contributed to this report.