{"id":2417979,"date":"2025-03-31T13:12:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T17:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/peanut-the-squirrels-killers-admit-we-can-do-better-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-03-31T13:13:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T17:13:48","slug":"peanut-the-squirrels-killers-admit-we-can-do-better-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/peanut-the-squirrels-killers-admit-we-can-do-better-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Peanut the Squirrel\u2019s killers admit, \u2018We can do better\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpeanut-the-squirrels-killers-admit-we-can-do-better-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2417979&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The controversy surrounding the killing of Peanut the Squirrel and his companion Fred the Raccoon in New York has prompted near-apologies from the state&#8217;s Department of Environmental Conservation. Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton acknowledged the public distress caused by the incident, which occurred when state officers euthanized the animals after one was bitten during a seizure intended to check for rabies. Peanut had a significant online following due to his rescue and life with owner Mark Longo, who had kept him for seven years. The state&#8217;s actions were criticized as government overreach, with notable figures, including Elon Musk, expressing outrage over the situation. Lefton stated that the agency will review its wildlife protection protocols to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Legal issues surrounding the case continue, as organizations seek more data about the seizure and the governmental power involved.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Peanut the Squirrel&rsquo;s killers admit, &lsquo;We can do better&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1896797\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>New York&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3244836\/pnut-the-squirrel-owners-sue-new-york-killing-pets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">controversial killings<\/a> of Peanut the Squirrel and his pal Fred the Racoon have drawn a near apology for the incident that drew online anger at Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and criticism from Elon Musk.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have carefully reviewed all the public feedback and we understand the distress caused to communities throughout the state. We know that we can do better moving forward,&rdquo; said Department of Environmental Conservation acting Commissioner <a href=\"https:\/\/dec.ny.gov\/news\/press-releases\/2025\/3\/statement-from-department-of-environmental-conservation-acting-commissioner-amanda-lefton-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Amanda Lefton.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3364021\/ellen-weintraub-fired-democratic-fec-commissioner-lawsuit-trump\/\">Fired Democratic FEC commissioner seeks to punish Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3363300\/white-house-report-card-winning-over-america-but-not-the-swamp\/\">White House Report Card: Winning over America, but not the swamp<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3362239\/trump-turning-black-hispanic-voters-into-republicans\/\">Trump turning black and Hispanic voters into Republicans<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a statement issued late last week, Lefton sought to end the controversy that erupted in late October when the &ldquo;rescued&rdquo; animals were seized from their owner and euthanized to check for rabies when one of the state&rsquo;s officers was bitten by the frightened squirrel.<\/p>\n<p>Peanut <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">has had an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/peanut_the_squirrel12\/\" target=\"_blank\">online following<\/a>&nbsp;since Mark Longo saved him<\/span> after the squirrel&rsquo;s mom was killed in a car accident. He joined Fred for online videos and photos.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Mark Longo really loved Peanut the Squirrel. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/If8ASefCEN\">pic.twitter.com\/If8ASefCEN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stillgray\/status\/1852747382393274542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Peanut lived upstate with Longo for seven years, and eventually, 3 million followers viewed his videos and photos. The state moved in after it received complaints about Longo keeping the &ldquo;wild&rdquo; animals without permits. During the seizure, one agent was bitten, leading to the rabies test on both, which required their decapitations.<\/p>\n<p>The results were negative.<\/p>\n<p>The case drew a public outcry of government overreach. Musk said on a Joe Rogan podcast, &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s the thing about the whole squirrel thing. &hellip; How can it be that we live in America, supposedly the land of the free, and the government can barge into your home with guns? So if you resist, you&rsquo;re gonna get shot. And then take your pets and execute them. If they can do that to your pets, what do you think they can do to you?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In her statement, Lefton said, &ldquo;At the direction of the governor, in my initial few weeks as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-cbp-head-biden-administration-is-facilitating-illegal-immigration-into-america\/\" title=\"Former CBP Head: Biden Administration \u2018Is Facilitating Illegal Immigration\u2019 Into ...\">acting commissioner<\/a>, I have prioritized a review of our current wildlife protection and enforcement process to protect New Yorkers and this agency from similar incidents in the future.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She added, &ldquo;Our agency is committed to developing additional protocols to address illegally possessed wildlife and ensuring that our staff and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/several-killed-in-queens-after-apartments-flood-due-to-hurricane-ida\/\" title=\"Several killed in Queens after apartments flood due to Hurricane Ida\">environmental conservation<\/a> officers<\/a> have the necessary resources to carry them out. In addition, DEC will be welcoming a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whether-a-person-died-in-a-nursing-home-or-hospital-who-cares-they-died-governor-cuomo-proves-hes-as-heartless-as-he-is-reckless-with-ny-lives-video\/\" title=\"\u201cWhether a Person Died in a Nursing Home or Hospital\u2026 WHO CARES? THEY DIED?\u201d \u2013 Governor Cuomo Proves He\u2019s as Heartless as He is Reckless with NY Lives (VIDEO)\">deputy commissioner<\/a> for public protection &amp; emergency response.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We recognize that these improvements are necessary and in my new role I will ensure that DEC is focused on its mission to deliver clean air and water for every New Yorker while protecting the environment and our invaluable natural resources for future generations.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEE THE LATEST POLITICAL NEWS AND BUZZ FROM WASHINGTON SECRETS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The case is the subject of legal action, including a suit by Washington-based Judicial Watch, which is seeking written and video records of the seizure.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The heartless killing of &lsquo;Peanut the Squirrel&rsquo; by New York state bureaucrats shocked America,&rdquo; Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. &ldquo;And now these same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tim-walz-supports-censorship-but-its-going-unnoticed\/\" title=\"Tim Walz Supports Censorship, But It\u2019s Going Unnoticed\">bureaucrats don&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t want to turn over one document about Peanut&rsquo;s death and their abusive raid on Peanut&rsquo;s home. Judicial Watch&rsquo;s lawsuit aims to get to the bottom of this abuse of government power,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1896797\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1896797\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Peanut the Squirrel&#8217;s killers acknowledge, &#8216;We can improve<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2647,"featured_media":2417980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Peanut-the-Squirrel.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[39454,52559,44264,32076,52560],"class_list":["post-2417979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-animal-welfare","tag-justice-for-animals","tag-peanut-the-squirrel","tag-washington-examiner","tag-wildlife-issues"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Peanut-the-Squirrel.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2417979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2647"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2417979"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2417979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2417983,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2417979\/revisions\/2417983"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2417980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2417979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2417979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2417979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}