Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have voiced their outrage after New York authorities reportedly seized and euthanized a pet squirrel named Peanut, who had gained widespread popularity on social media.
Peanut’s owner, Mark Longo, known for his animal sanctuary and beloved posts featuring the squirrel, saw his home raided by state officials following anonymous complaints.
During the raid, Peanut and a raccoon named Fred were taken, with authorities later confirming both animals were euthanized to test for rabies.
Elon Musk sharply criticized the action, saying, “Government overreach kidnapped an orphan squirrel and executed him.”
Kennedy responded with his own post, questioning the incident with a reference to previous cases: “Are these the same guys that killed my whale and my bear? And, what happened to the head? Just asking for a friend.”
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Chemung County Department of Health explained in a statement to CBS News New York that the animals were seized due to concerns over potential rabies exposure.
“On Oct 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies.