NY State Identifies Lead Investigator Behind ‘P’Nut’ The Squirrel’s Death [WATCH]

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is conducting an internal investigation following a controversial raid on an upstate New York home that led to the death of an internet-famous pet squirrel named P’Nut.

The raid, which took place at Mark Longo’s Pine City residence on October 30, resulted in the euthanasia and decapitation of both P’Nut and a raccoon named Fred, allegedly for rabies testing.

The incident has sparked public outrage, with critics questioning both the necessity of the raid and the state’s refusal to release test results or other details.

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The DEC has acknowledged that the raid, involving roughly ten agents, is under review. “An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission,” a DEC spokesperson told The Post.

However, requests from Longo and others for transparency on the rabies test results, as well as the condition of the agent bitten by P’Nut during the raid, have gone unanswered.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, the DEC, the state Health Department, and the Chemung County Health Department have all withheld these details, despite Hochul’s early promise of transparency in her administration.

The lack of clarity has angered Longo, who expressed frustration at the DEC’s silence. “You claimed rabies… but you haven’t made a public comment on it?” Longo said.

“As a taxpayer, is my life and what you caused me not good enough to respond?”

Longo has since filed a Freedom of Information Law request to obtain the rabies test results, while the DEC set up a hotline for concerned citizens to leave messages about P’Nut.

According to court documents, DEC Investigator Joshua Crain led the raid after obtaining a search warrant signed by Chemung County Judge Richard W. Rich Jr.

The warrant, issued a day prior to the raid, indicated that Crain suspected Longo of illegally housing a gray squirrel and a raccoon.

It did not cite any specific health or safety risks, such as rabies concerns.

Crain, who was named Wildlife Officer of the Year in 2022 for his work philosophy that “promotes education first and enforcement when needed,” has faced scrutiny for his role in the operation.

Longo has since voiced plans to pursue legal action against the DEC, stating, “What happened in my house, if you think that was an educational [action] — I don’t know.”

The DEC’s union, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, urged for calm amid escalating backlash, noting that misinformation had led to threats against DEC staff and a judge.

The State Police reported receiving at least 14 bomb threats targeting DEC offices, none of which were deemed credible.

The union clarified that the investigation into Longo began in January, following reports that he was unlawfully keeping P’Nut.

Longo reportedly told authorities he had released the squirrel, but further complaints and a review of his social media revealed he had continued to house P’Nut and had also taken in a raccoon.

State Senator Dan Stec (R-Warren) has also questioned the DEC’s transparency, stating, “I can’t think of any legitimate or lawful reason to conceal the results of the rabies test. It’s a matter of public health.” He criticized the agency’s handling of the situation, asking, “Where is the state secret here? Whose interest are they protecting?”

The national outcry over the incident has extended into the political realm, with former President Donald Trump’s official campaign TikTok account accusing “Democrat bureaucrats in New York” of “needlessly murdering” P’Nut.

Longo, reflecting on the public response, said he believes P’Nut’s story may have contributed to increased support for Trump and hopes the president-elect will visit his animal sanctuary.

The DEC’s investigation and the outcome of Longo’s legal actions are ongoing, as public demand for transparency continues to mount in the wake of P’Nut’s tragic death.

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