Peanut the Squirrel was recently euthanized for a rabies test per the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation statement. As Peanut was a social media star with more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, his fans are furious at the officials of the department and many have also questioned the need to euthanize an animal for rabies testing.
According to Critter Control, it is rare for squirrels to carry rabies. However, they can pass the virus to humans. The saliva of a rabid squirrel contains a higher concentration of the virus and can be passed along if a human is in direct contact with the saliva, whether by a bite or a scratch.
The common symptoms of a squirrel carrying rabies include falling over, drooling, walking in circles, aggression, muscle spasms, and seizures.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, animals need to be euthanized by a professional for the submission of their specimens. The specimens are tested in a qualified rabies laboratory.
Rabies diagnosis requires the detection of the virus from any part of the brain. However, it is not possible to test animals without a full cross-section of tissue from the brain stem and cerebellum. Methods for ante-mortem rabies testing of animals have not been approved yet.
However, whether Peanut the Squirrel had rabies has not been revealed yet. Ideally, in the US, test results for rabies are available within 24 to 72 hours. Peanut was euthanized on November 1.
Why was Peanut the Squirrel seized from a New York home?
Peanut the Squirrel was rescued by Mark Longo about seven years ago. Since then, Peanut became a pet for Longo who also established a rehabilitation center for neglected animals in the name of his beloved pet.
However, on October 30, the squirrel and a raccoon were confiscated from Longo's New York home for rabies testing. DEC and Chemung County Department of Health's statement claimed that a person involved in the investigation was bitten by the squirrel.
A GoFundMe was also set in Peanut the Squirrel's name for its release from the department. However, the fundraiser's goal was changed to provide funding to P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary after Peanut's death. Longo is questioning the state for allegedly killing his pet.
For the unversed, it is illegal to keep young wildlife as pets according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The department says,
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"Inappropriate care given to young wildlife often results in abnormal attachment to humans."
It suggests people call a wildlife rehabilitator when they find an orphan or injured young wild animal.
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