Squirrel’s Euthanasia Ignites Controversy Over Urban Wildlife Policies

Squirrel's Euthanasia Ignites Controversy Over Urban Wildlife Policies

An Instagram-famous squirrel’s euthanasia ignites a political firestorm, raising questions about government overreach and animal rights.

You’ve probably heard about it already, but here are the details behind the scandal.

At a Glance

  • P’nut, a social media star squirrel with over 500k followers, was seized and euthanized by New York state
  • Republicans, including Donald Trump Jr., criticized the action as Democratic overreach
  • The incident sparked debate on urban wildlife management and animal rights
  • P’nut’s owner, Mark Longo, disputes the state’s claims and vows to take action

P’nut’s Tragic End Sparks Outrage

The euthanasia of P’nut, an Instagram-famous squirrel with over 500,000 followers, has ignited a fierce debate on government overreach and animal rights. New York state authorities seized and euthanized P’nut, along with a raccoon named Fred, from the home of Mark Longo, citing public health concerns and illegal possession of wild animals.

The incident quickly drew attention from prominent conservatives, who saw it as an example of government overreach. Donald Trump Jr. even voiced his criticism, drawing parallels to broader political issues.

“Our government will let in 16,000 rapists, they will let in 13,000 murderers, they will let in 600,000 criminals across our border, but if someone has a pet squirrel without a permit they will go in there and kill the squirrel. That is the Democrat party. That’s where they will go. That’s their overreach,” Donald Trump Jr. said.

He’s not wrong…

Political Figures Weigh In

The controversy surrounding P’nut’s euthanasia has drawn comments from various other political figures, too. Senator JD Vance highlighted the absurdity of the situation, while Elon Musk questioned the necessity of euthanizing P’nut instead of releasing him into the wild.

“The government should not be allowed to barge into your house and kill your pet! That’s messed up. Even if it is illegal to have a pet squirrel (which it shouldn’t be), why kill PNut instead of simply releasing him into the forest!?” Elon Musk said.

Congressman Nick Langworthy criticized the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for misplaced priorities, suggesting they should focus on more pressing issues like flood mitigation.

Owner’s Grief and Disputed Claims

Mark Longo, P’nut’s owner and caretaker, expressed deep shock and grief over the loss of his beloved pets. Longo, who runs an animal refuge in Pine City, New York, had rescued P’nut seven years ago after an injury left the squirrel unable to survive in the wild.

“Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief,” Longo said.

Longo disputes the DEC’s claims, particularly regarding a reported biting incident that led to the animals’ euthanasia. He described the search of his property as heavy-handed and criticized the state’s decision-making process.

“Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them,” he added.

The P’nut controversy has broader implications for urban wildlife management and animal rights. It highlights the tension between public health concerns, wildlife conservation, and the growing trend of exotic pet ownership.

But let’s be honest here: it’s not like he had a pet tiger in his house. It was a squirrel!