Peanuts: He made an orphaned squirrel a social media star. Then authorities euthanized it

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star vowed Saturday that New York state's decision to seize and euthanize the animal “won't go unheard.” “We will make a stance on how this government and New York state utilizes their resources,” Mark Longo said in a phone interview. The DEC and the Chemung County Health Department said Friday that the squirrel and raccoon were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit someone involved in the investigation. Longo said Saturday that he didn't see Peanut bite anyone during what he described as an hourslong, heavy-handed search. Longo said he started caring for Peanut after the animal's mother was hit by a car in New York City seven years ago.