Outrage over Peanut the Squirrel’s death has sparked bomb threats directed at New York state offices of the agency that euthanized the beloved pet.
The furry social media sensation – along with his raccoon friend Fred – were seized from their owners’ home on October 30 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and put down two days later.
Since then, the squirrel’s untimely end has provoked outrage and criticism from prominent MAGA Republicans.
After several DEC offices across the state received bomb threats this week, state employees were offered the option of working from home, the Times Union reported.
Offices in Allegany, Bath, Buffalo, Cortland, New Paltz, New York City, Sherburne, Stony Brook, Syracuse, and Tarrytown all received threat, though none were found to be credible, the Times Union reported.
DEC officials had seized Peanut and Fred from the Pine City residence of Mark and Daniela Longo, a couple who run a small animal rescue.
Wildlife authorities reportedly visited the property after receiving anonymous complaints about conditions there.
Peanut was euthanized after biting a person involved in the investigation.
The DEC issued an email statement to staff, saying that the agency was working with state police to address the threats, according to Times Union.
‘Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees. As you are aware, there have been a number of threats toward DEC and our staff in recent days and we are taking these extremely seriously, including by coordinating closely with the New York State Police.’
The animals’ owner, Mark Longo, 34, did not have the proper licensing to legally keep the critters.
Earlier this week, he said he believed officials raided his and his wife’s home because of their OnlyFans account.
‘I think there’s an ulterior motive here, and it seems it has to do with my spicy social media presence, especially since other than taking the animals, they took no action against me,’ he told TMZ.
He said when officials first showed up, one of the first questions they asked was whether they have any cameras inside the house.
Multiple anonymous complaints about Peanut – also spelled P’Nut or PNUT – brought at least six officers from the DEC to Longo’s home near the Pennsylvania border last week.
DEC officials took the squirrel and raccoon from Longo’s home after they carried out a search warrant signed by four state agencies, all ignoring calls for clemency.
‘The DEC came to my house and raided my house without a search warrant to find a squirrel!’ said Longo. ‘I was treated as if I was a drug dealer and they were going for drugs and guns.’
Longo runs an animal sanctuary with his wife Daniela – and they each have a large social media presence that promotes their OnlyFans content.
He said they were able to purchase their 350-acre home with the $800,000 that they made in one month posting their porn online after their content gained traction after Peanut went viral.
‘Maybe it’s someone who thinks I use this place to make a lot of money. Did this do wonders to my OnlyFans? Absolutely. It’s making a lot of money from this,’ Longo told the New York Post.
Peanut’s death became a bizarre election talking point after a fake Trump post that appeared to condemn the seizure and subsequent death of the squirrel went viral.
When the real Trump campaign got wind of the wind-up, they clarified it was false.
‘It’s a fake statement,’ Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told the Post. ‘He didn’t actually say that,’ she added.