A conservative government watchdog group that sued state officials for documents related to the seizure and euthanasia of Peanut the squirrel is claiming those records show the plan was to seize and euthanize the internet sensation squirrel and rescue raccoon Fred all along.
Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Environmental Conservation after claiming DEC didn’t respond in a timely manner to two Freedom of Information Law requests for documents related to the case that gained national attention — and public outrage — last fall.
Peanut was rescued by Mark Longo several years ago after its mother was killed by a car. Peanut went on to become an internet sensation, with nearly 1 million followers on his Instagram account alone, along with other social media outlets.
In late October, representatives from DEC, investigating complaints that Longo was harboring wildlife without a proper license, searched his property and seized both Peanut and Fred.
Peanut allegedly bit one of the people involved in the operation and both he and Fred were subsequently euthanized and tested for rabies. Both animals tested negative.
But Judicial Watch, which says it obtained 161 pages worth of documents in response to its FOIL request, claims that euthanasia wasn’t simply a response to a reported bite, but it was always the objective.
Owners of Peanut the Squirrel, who amassed nearly 1 million followers on Instagram, confirmed his euthanasia in a video posted to Instagram.
What DEC documents show about Peanut the Squirrel seizure, euthanasia
A DEC official contacted the Chemung County Department of Health on Oct. 29 regarding the case.
“I provided [redacted] with a summary of the case and then requested their suggestion on what they would like done with any wildlife located during the investigation,” a DEC wildlife officer stated in the documents released by Judicial Watch.
“[Redacted] advised that if any of the wild animals had contact with humans, they would most likely need to be submitted for rabies testing,” the officer said. “[Redacted] advised that they utilize the Elmira Animal Control for euthanasia and submission of rabies testing and suggested I contact them.”
After coordinating with the Chemung County Department of Health and Elmira Animal Control, the officer called approximately 12 licensed wildlife rehabilitators to ask if they would be able to accept a squirrel for temporary holding/rehabbing, with multiple wildlife rehabilitators offering to take in the squirrel.
During the search, however, a wildlife biologist said she was bitten on the thumb by Peanut.
“I was advised that while capturing the squirrel, while wearing latex gloves under heavy duty leathergloves, Wildlife Biologist [redacted] was bit on the thumb,” reads the report. “[Redacted] stated that the bite didn’t appear to break the latex glove, but wasn’t sure. [Redacted] showed me the abrasion on her thumb.”
Other incident reports noted the observation of a small wound on her finger.
The report goes on to state that DEC consulted with the Chemung County Department of Health and asked if the animals should be tested for rabies since raccoons are a vector species. The department stated that both animals “should be tested as a precaution” as the department “didn’t want to chance it,” according to the report.
The high-profile nature of the case is alluded to several times in the incident report.
“Upon arrival to the Animal Control Office, [redacted] advised that he had called [redacted] again to reiterate the specifics of the case and to emphasis (sic) that the case is high profile,” states the report. “[Redacted] stated that [redacted] said that it didn’t change anything and that the animals would need to be tested.”
DEC then transported Peanut and Fred to Elmira Animal Control, where they were euthanized.
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Judicial Watch, Longo respond to report
The documents prove what Judicial Watch contended all along, said President Tom Fitton.
“The documents show an abuse of power where 12 officers were sent in on a raid to seize Peanut and Fred, who the bureaucrats decided beforehand would be killed,” Fitton said. “These documents show the killing of Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Racoon was the result of pure government abuse and insanity.”
In response to the Judicial Watch report, DEC said it couldn’t comment on pending litigation, but reiterated the statement made in late March by acting agency Commissioner Amanda Lefton.
“We have carefully reviewed all the public feedback and we understand the distress caused to communities throughout the state,” Lefton said at the time. “We know that we can do better moving forward.”
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Longo, meanwhile, said he is familiar with the Judicial Watch report and believes it proves what he has claimed all along about government overreach.
“I was a target. This was not about Peanut and Fred. They came after me,” Longo said Tuesday. “There was no evidence of a bite. There were no visible puncture marks on the protective gloves. Somebody is not telling the truth. They killed those animals out of spite.
“I didn’t get arrested. I didn’t get a violation,” he added. “I got nothing except my animals killed. It’s a tragedy.”
Longo traveled to Albany this month to join legislators and animal welfare activists in support of “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act,” which advocates say would prevent similar incidents in the future. Longo continues to operate P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Chemung County.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: DEC Peanut the squirrel incident reports released. What documents show