The New York State agency that killed an Internet-famous pet squirrel is allowing its employees to work from home in response to a string of bomb threats.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has been receiving furious backlash over its euthanizing Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon last week and sent a note to its approximately 3,000 workers telling them they could work from home Monday and Tuesday.
“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,” the letter said, according to a report Monday in the Albany Times Union.
Eight of the DEC offices — Allegany, Bath, Buffalo, Cortland, New Paltz, New York City, Sherburne, Stony Brook, Syracuse and Tarrytown — have received bomb threats in recent days, the Times Union reported.
“None of the threats received to date have been legitimate,” the department’s letter stated.
The backlash against the agency grew out of a raid last week on the home of Mark Longo, the Chemung County man who turned the rescued squirrel into a social media star.
SEE ALSO: Sheriff’s office says it had no involvement in Peanut the squirrel raid, euthanization
Multiple anonymous complaints about Peanut — also spelled P’Nut or PNUT — brought at least six officers from the DEC to Mr. Longo’s home near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the DEC said in a statement last week that the agency started an investigation after receiving “multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.”
“The DEC came to my house and raided my house without a search warrant to find a squirrel!” said Mr. Longo, 34. “I was treated as if I was a drug dealer and they were going for drugs and guns.”
The officers left with Peanut, who had amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms during his seven years with Mr. Longo.
A person involved with the confiscation was bitten by Peanut, according to a Friday statement from the DEC.
Peanut and Fred were both euthanized to test for rabies, as is standard procedure, the agency said.
SEE ALSO: Peanut the Instagram-famous squirrel is euthanized by N.Y. state authorities after raid
Mr. Longo, who runs an animal refuge inspired by his squirrel buddy called P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, took to Instagram to mourn Peanut’s loss.
“Well internet, you WON,” Mr. Longo posted. “You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you.”
The furor even reached the presidential campaign.
In a statement Saturday, former President Donald Trump called the seizure and killing of the animals an example of government overreach and misplaced priorities.
“New York authorities, under their terrible Governor, put more effort into finding and eliminating a squirrel, who was innocent by all accounts, than they do to control the unchecked illegal immigrants who have flooded into their state,” he said.
“If Peanut could have told them that he was from Mexico, they would have sent him on his way and given him a hotel room and a $500 gift card to Buddy Squirrel. Instead, he was taken from his family. Very sad, and a complete waste of resources! When we win, we will get our priorities in order,” he added.
• This article was based in part on wire-service reports.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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