US authorities seize the Instagram-famous squirrel

The man who cares for an internet-famous squirrel named Peanut is pleading with New York authorities to return it after it was seized by authorities.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided Mark Longo’s home on Wednesday following complaints about potentially unsafe housing of the animal.

“To the group of people who called the DEC, there is a special place in hell for you,” said Mr. Longo in an Instagram post announcing the seizure, adding that he did not know if the ash-colored rodent had been euthanized.

A petition for the animal’s return had more than 20,000 signatures by Friday morning.

In subsequent posts on Instagram on Thursday, Mr. Longo said he was raising money for legal fees against the DEC.

A statement from the DEC said an investigation had been launched after receiving “several reports from the public of potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and illegal keeping of wildlife as pets”.

The squirrel’s current condition was not clarified by DEC.

Mr. Longo took Peanut in seven years ago after he saw the baby squirrel of its mother who had been hit by a car.

He cared for Peanut until he was strong enough to be released, but said he found Peanut back on his porch the following morning with “part of the tail missing.”

Peanut’s Instagram account has since amassed more than 500,000 followers.

The account features videos of Peanut performing skits with Mr. Longo, occasionally dressed in hats, often climbs over him or is hugged, and regularly eats waffles.

During the raid, DEC also seized a raccoon, which Mr. Longo had acquired in recent months and was called Fred.