Peanut, the Instagram-famous squirrel that was stolen from his owner’s home on Wednesday, has been euthanized by New York state officials.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seized Peanut and a raccoon named Fred on Wednesday after the agency learned the animals “shared an enclosure with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies,” it said in a statement. a joint statement. statement to the Chemung County Department of Health.

Both Peanut and Fred were euthanized to test for rabies, the statement said. It was unclear when the animals were euthanized.

The statement stated that one of the officers involved in the investigation of Peanut and Fred was bitten by the squirrel.

Officials are coordinating public health protections related to the illegal possession of wild animals that have the potential to carry the rabies virus, said the statement, which also encouraged anyone who has come into contact with the animals to talk to the animals. their doctor.

According to the DEC, it is illegal to keep young wild animals as pets.

Peanut had lived with owner Mark Longo for seven years, ever since Longo said he saw Peanut’s mother hit by a car in New York City.

Longo brought Peanut him home and ended up caring for the squirrel for eight months before attempting to release it back into the wild. He said Peanut returned to his porch a day and a half later with a broken bone sticking out of his tail, at which point Longo decided Peanut couldn’t survive alone in the wild and would move in with him instead.

Since then, Peanut has captured the hearts of the internet, amassing 537,000 followers on his Longo Instagram page. Videos on the page show Peanut eating waffles and welcoming Longo as he walks through the front door.

Fred, the raccoon, was a more recent addition to Longo’s home.

In a tearful video posted to Peanut’s Instagram account on Friday, Longo held a portrait of his pet and thanked his followers for their support.

“Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us,” Longo said through tears. “I want to continue fighting this fight as much as possible, but we need all of you to come together and help us.”

The caption of the video reads: “RIP MY BEST FRIEND. Thank you for the best seven years of my life. Thank you for bringing so much joy to us and the world. I’m sorry I let you down but thank you for everything.”

Multiple anonymous complaints brought DEC agents to Longo’s home in Pine County, New York, on Wednesday, prompting Longo to advocate for his pet’s release.

“Well internet, you won. You took one of the most amazing animals from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there is a special place in hell for you,” Longo wrote on Peanut’s Instagram on Wednesday .

Longo and his wife moved to Upstate New York last year to establish P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, named after his pet and officially opened in April 2023. The sanctuary is home to more than 350 rescues and relies “heavily” on donations of Peanut’s online followers to help more animals, Longo said in the Instagram post Wednesday.

Longo asked his followers on Friday to help by donating money to the “ongoing legal battle” and to their nonprofit “so we can keep Peanut’s name alive.”