A family is broken following the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation confiscating multiple animals, including a viral squirrel, Peanut, from a New York home.

Mark Longo, who runs an animal refuge, orphaned Peanut for 7 years after “he saw Peanut’s mother get hit by a car in New York City seven years ago, leaving the tiny squirrel an orphan” (AP News).

The DEC sent six officers to Longo’s Pine City, New York, home on Wednesday, November 1st, after an Anonymous tip was sent in. Longo stated, “The DEC came to my house and raided my house without a search warrant to find a squirrel!” and “I was treated as if I were a drug dealer, and they were going for drugs and guns” (AP News). Longo took to the internet to express his sadness and frustration, stating in an Instagram post, “Well, internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place…for you” (Instagram).

Peanut, along with Fred the Racoon, whom Longo only had for a couple of months, was confiscated. To own a wild animal, you must have a certified license. “The squirrel and raccoon were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit someone involved in the investigation” (ABC News), said the DEC and the Chemung County Health Department.

Longo says that he had not seen Peanut bite anyone during the search but states that “the authorities haven’t spoken with him since they left the property” (ABC News). Peanut gained thousands of Instagram and TikTok followers by landing tricks, wearing tiny hats, and being a member of Longo’s family. As of right now, Longo plans to take his next steps to make sure that the government and New York State officials “hear from him soon about what happened to Peanut the squirrel and Fred” (ABC News).