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    • Agencies in New York receive bomb threats after the death of Peanut the Squirrel
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    Agencies in New York receive bomb threats after the death of Peanut the Squirrel

    Vaseline Posted on

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    This story has been updated with newly obtained information from the New York State Police on the number of bomb threats reported by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, in addition to the locations of the bomb threats.

    In the days following New York’s decision to euthanize Peanut the Squirrel, fans, lawmakers and those just hearing about the social media star are becoming increasingly upset. Over the past 48 hours, the government agency that seized and killed Peanut has received at least 10 bomb threats, and a New York representative has proposed a new law to protect animals in shelters.

    Peanut the Squirrel, who now has more than 784,000 Instagram followers, was euthanized on Friday, November 1, to test for rabies, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Chemung County Department of Health.

    The New York Department of Environmental Conservation seized Peanut from his home in Pine City, New York on Wednesday, October 30. The seizure occurred due to “multiple reports from the public regarding the potentially unsafe housing of wild animals carrying rabies and illegal keeping of wildlife as pets,” the department said in a statement. A raccoon known as Fred was also seized from Longo’s home and euthanized.

    10+ bomb threats in 48 hours

    While no connection has yet been made to Peanut’s euthanasia, more than 10 bomb threats have been reported to various New York Department of Environmental Conservation offices in the past 48 hours, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office told USA TODAY Tuesday morning.

    “Gov. Hochul strongly condemns these excessive threats of force and is grateful to the New York State Police for their work to investigate these threats and support government employees,” a statement from her office said.

    On Tuesday evening, New York State Police confirmed that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had reported 12 bomb threats. Executive Director of Public Information Beau Duffy confirmed that these offices are in Allegany, Bath, Buffalo, Cortlandville, Elmira, New Platz, New York City, Sherbourne, Stamford, Stony Brook, Syracuse and Tarrytown.

    Duffy said all threats were considered ‘non-credible’ and investigations were ongoing.

    Of the two threats reported Tuesday morning, the first was sent to the department office in Bath, New York, on November 3, and the second was sent to the department office in New Paltz, New York, on November 4. In some cases, New York State Police troopers conducted thorough searches of the buildings and found no explosives. Investigations into both threats are ongoing, according to press releases from the New York State Police.

    ‘Peanuts Law’

    In response to the actions of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Republican New York lawmakers Jake Blumencranz and Matt Simpson co-sponsored a new bill called “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act.”

    “What happened to Peanut was a tragedy and this heartbreaking event must be investigated,” Blumencranz said in a video shared on social media. “As a state legislator and advocate for animals, this tragedy can bring about change in our animal seizure process and system.”

    The purpose of the “Peanut’s Law” is to ensure humane treatment of animals on the sanctuary and would serve as an amendment to Section 11-0511 of New York law, which deals with the possession and transportation of wild animals animals.

    According to a press release from Jake Blumencranz’s office, highlights of “Peanut’s Law” include:

    • Waiting time of 72 hours: A 72-hour pause before euthanizing an animal at the shelter, giving shelter managers time to respond, arrange veterinary care and appeal
    • Emergency appeal rights: A department of the Department of Environmental Conservation will review the appeals within 48 hours so that the matter receives immediate attention
    • Clear criteria for “immediate risk”.: Euthanasia can only bypass the waiting period if a licensed veterinarian confirms an immediate risk to public safety
    • Transparent reporting: The Department of Environmental Conservation will be required to publish quarterly reports on animal seizures and release test results within seven days if euthanasia occurs
    • Recognition of the shrine: Animal sanctuaries are registered, tax identified entities and their rights to due process and humane treatment will be protected

    On November 2, Blumencranz sent a letter to Hochul and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Committee Officer Sean Mahar asking for their support for “Peanut’s Law.”

    In an interview with USA TODAY on Tuesday, Blumencranz said he was told Hochul is not interested in further pursuing “Peanut’s Law.”

    “Unfortunately, the governor’s office and the individuals in the majority in the assembly do not see a problem,” Blumencranz told USA TODAY on Tuesday. “They say the protocol has been followed, no issues have arisen and that is exactly the way this process is going. I believe that protocols need to change and at the very least the voices of the voiceless animals euthanized in this process need to be heard. be heard.”

    USA TODAY reached out to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.

    Who was Peanut the Squirrel?

    Peanut was a rescue squirrel who had lived under the care of owner Mark Longo for seven years.

    Longo first connected with Peanut when he saw the squirrel’s mother get hit by a car, as previously reported by USA TODAY. Unfortunately, the mother died, leaving Peanut an orphan. Longo failed to find a shelter that would receive him. Longo ended up nursing baby Peanut for about eight months before attempting to release him back into the wild.

    “I let him loose in the backyard, and a day and a half later I found him sitting on my porch with half his tail missing. So here I am, with tears in my eyes, like I let you down as your human,” Longo told USA TODAY in 2022. “And I opened the door a little bit, he ran in and that was the last of Peanut’s wildlife career.”

    For the first five years, Longo, Peanut and Longo’s cat, Chloe, lived together in harmony.

    Last spring, Longo founded P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City. The nonprofit serves as a “sanctuary where neglected and homeless animals are given a second chance at life,” according to its website.

    “We moved to a small town to start a non-profit animal rescue organization called P’Nut’s Freedom Farm. We understood that this internet sensation was a wave and we wanted to make something great out of it, so we moved from Connecticut to New York ..have saved more than 300 animals, all in Peanut’s name,” Longo told NewsNation’s Cuomo this weekend. “Peanut is the center of our organization. I used his social media to raise money to continue helping animals.”

    Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

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