Latest news with #raccoon
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Euthanasia or execution? Lawsuit says Peanut the squirrel shouldn't be dead.
Mark Longo fondly remembers waking up in his south-central New York home to the pitter-patter of little feet. They didn't belong to a cat or dog, but to a squirrel named Peanut who stole the hearts of the Longo family and many others around the world. But officials say local laws meant that Peanut should not have been kept as a pet. On Oct. 30, 2024, officials with the state's Department of Environmental Conservation raided Longo's home in Pine City and confiscated Peanut and a raccoon named Fred, both of which Longo said he'd rescued and was taking care of. Both animals were euthanized, shocking social media followers who had grown to love them. Rabies concerns supercharged the conflict, as raccoons can carry the deadly disease in New York and are illegal to keep as pets. To test an animal for rabies, it must first be euthanized, according to the CDC. The raid captured national attention, with Peanut's death symbolizing an out-of-control local government to some. Longo agrees and in June 2025 filed a lawsuit claiming his rights, and his wife Daniela Bittner's rights, had been violated. "Filing these lawsuits will allow us to create a movement," Longo told USA TODAY. "This was a heinous act by an overpowering government who overreached." Meanwhile, a trove of documents about the investigation paints a picture of state authorities facing mounting concerns and complaints about Longo's animals, especially after Fred the raccoon joined the pack, that culminated in the dramatic raid. Months after Peanut and Fred's fate sparked public backlash, acting DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton released a statement acknowledging the agency could have handled the situation better, and saying it is reviewing all of its wildlife protection and enforcement protocols. A spokesperson for the DEC, Lori Severino, said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. Representatives for Chemung County and the city of Elmira, also named in the June lawsuit, did not immediately return a request for comment. What happened to Peanut and Fred Peanut and Fred were both taken from Longo's home on Oct. 30 after the county's health department and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation said in a statement at the time they had received reports about "potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets." According to Longo, nine conservation officers went to his home and spent about five hours "ransacking" it. He added that he and his wife were detained during the search, his wife's immigration status was questioned, and the home was checked for cameras. (Longo's wife Daniela is a German immigrant.) Officials said Peanut bit one of the investigators involved in the confiscation and both animals taken were later euthanized to test for rabies, prompting outrage from the massive social media following Longo and Peanut had amassed. Rabies tests can only be done on the animals after they are dead. While raccoons are known vectors for rabies, squirrels rarely get rabies, according to the CDC. A human has never contracted rabies from a squirrel in the United States, the District of Columbia health department has said. Longo and Peanut's fans, and even then-vice presidential candidate JD Vance, decried the raid and the decision to euthanize the animals. Peanut lived with Longo for several years after he said he rescued the squirrel as a baby when he witnessed its mother get hit by a car and die. He tried releasing Peanut back into the wild, but the squirrel got injured outdoors, so Longo took him back in. Wildlife rescuers say some squirrels fail at rehabilitation because they imprint on humans and don't develop wild squirrel behaviors. Longo did not have the required license to work as a squirrel rehabilitator in New York, investigators said in documents released by watchdog group Judicial Watch as part of a public records lawsuit. He later told USA TODAY he had started the process to become licensed but was stymied by complicated regulations that would have allowed him to legally keep Peanut. Lawsuit alleges 'obscene' government overreach Longo's lawsuit, filed in Chemung County, New York, names the county, the city of Elmira and several DEC officers as defendants. The 44-page filing, provided to USA TODAY by Longo, did not set forth a monetary amount but said Longo and Bittner were seeking a jury trial for damages and violations to their civil rights. "We hope to obtain justice, not just for my clients and the violation of their rights, but for Peanut and Fred, and all animals. We hope that Peanut's and Fred's deaths will not have been in vain," said Nora Constance Marino, the attorney representing Longo and Bittner. The suit says the DEC officers acted outside the scope of a warrant that authorized the search of the home and seizure of the animals but not their euthanasia, and in doing so violated the couple's right to due process. It also says the killing of Peanut and Fred also economically harmed Longo and Bittner and their animal sanctuary. They received donations and generated revenue thanks to the social media popularity of the animals. "Peanut and Fred were executed by the defendants, not euthanized," the suit says. The filing claims that the agency inflicted intentional emotional distress on Longo and Bittner, made worse by its refusal to return Peanut and Fred's remains to them. But Longo said his aim with the lawsuit is accountability, not revenge. "I do have a lot of fight. It's fight and grief, and it's hard to grieve when you know you're being challenged on so many levels. But the outcome needs to be a positive one, and I don't want to sit here and be the victim anymore." Documents reveal steps leading up to raid Documents, released earlier in 2025, revealed that Peanut was on DEC's radar since at least early 2024. In the days leading up to the seizure on Oct. 30, however, complaints came in to the department that a raccoon was now being kept and expressed concern about its living conditions. Fred, the raccoon, was located by authorities at the home in a closet in a piece of luggage, the reports show. Peanut was found in a bathroom. The complaints came from people who said they watched Longo's videos on TikTok and said they thought Longo was using the animals for fame without regard for their welfare. An officer said in the reports that officers watched Longo's videos on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. One officer also drove by Longo's property in the days leading up to the seizure and photographed it from the street. "DEC Wildlife staff continued to receive several new citizen complaints regarding captive raccoons during October 2024, which led to the decision for the case to be handled via application of a search warrant to obtain the alleged captive raccoons," the documents say. The documents paint an unclear picture of authorities' intentions with the raid. One analysis found evidence that euthanasia was the plan all along, not just a response to the reported bite from the squirrel, the Elmira Star-Gazette, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. But the documents also show that officials had done extensive research to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for a squirrel. 'I cry almost every day' Longo said he didn't have to think twice about lying to authorities in an attempt to protect Peanut and Fred. When authorities came to his house on Oct. 30, records show that Longo told them he had no wild animals in the home, and that Peanut had been taken to Connecticut. Later, he pleaded with the officers not to take them. "As an animal lover, you love your animal, and you do whatever it takes to protect them," Longo said. Since that day, Longo said it's been difficult to live in his house, which brings back memories of Peanut and Fred's lives, and the experience of having them seized. He's also changed his opinion of law enforcement, whom he used to trust. "They destroyed my family," he said. "I cry almost every day knowing that that portion of my life and that chapter is closed." In April, Longo traveled to the state capital in Albany to advocate for Peanut's Law, a measure backed by lawmakers and animal welfare advocates that would establish a waiting period before animals seized from sanctuaries are euthanized and require a hearing and other due process standards, unless there's proof the animal poses a safety threat. "I want to make sure that these two animals didn't die in vain, and that the world understands that things need to be changed and improved," he said. Longo has also been focused on the hundreds of animals he keeps on his over 300-acre property, home to P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary. Rescues there include horses, goats, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, sheep and more. "I have to continue to keep the legacy of Peanut and Fred alive by going out and doing our part to help more and more animals," Longo said. Contributing: Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette; Greta Cross USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Government wrongly killed Peanut the squirrel, lawsuit says
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mama Raccoon Bravely Saves Baby From Falling off Roof in Harrowing Video
Mama Raccoon Bravely Saves Baby From Falling off Roof in Harrowing Video originally appeared on PetHelpful. ABC News shared a video on Wednesday, June 18th filmed by a couple in Pennsylvania watching a mama raccoon struggle to save her baby from falling off a roof. The video shows the mom already struggling to hold on to her baby as he flails and tries to hold on to her. Make sure your sound is on so you can hear the couple's conversation as they watch the events unfold. The mama raccoon refuses to give up; moms everywhere know that when it comes to protecting our babies, failure isn't an option! We love it when the man says, "That is the will of a mama right there," because he's spot on! That mama raccoon was not about to let that baby fall, and we're sure that the baby learned a lesson, too! Viewers of ABC News' video left more than 500 comments, and people were impressed by the raccoon's tenacity. @Amy shared, "That raccoon mom is a true hero, showing the strength and determination of a mother's love." @Kate Crawford Sanger added, "That's that adrenaline mom rush!" @Nate Ridgely had our favorite comment, "So the 'mom gets super strength to pick a car up off of a baby' isn't just limited to humans? Moms are badass regardless of species!"Some animal species (like cuckoo birds, sharks, and hippos) are terrible mothers, which made us wonder if raccoons are or if this mama raccoon's actions were just a one-off. According to the Wildlife Removal blog, raccoons are great mothers. "Raccoons are excellent mothers. They take great care of their babies. When the babies are young, they stay in a nest while the mother raccoon goes and forages for extra food to make enough milk to feed them." We're guessing the baby in this video was probably at this stage, "After about twelve weeks, the young have grown large enough that they start to follow the mother outside of the nest area (the nest is usually in a tree hollow or an attic) and outside, where they learn from her how to forage for food, and where are the best places to go." This baby found out where not to go! The article goes on to say that the babies are weaned by 16 weeks. The youngsters often stay with their mom for up to nine months before finally starting life on their own. Mama Raccoon Bravely Saves Baby From Falling off Roof in Harrowing Video first appeared on PetHelpful on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
CTV News
15-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa firefighters rescue baby racoon from pool drainpipe
A baby racoon will be rehomed after being rescued from a pool's drainpipe in Cumberland earlier this week. Fire crews were called to a home off Lookout Road at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, firefighter Grace Neilson of station 72 told CTV News over the phone Sunday. Upon arrival, firefighters could hear a whimpering sound coming from a drainpipe next to the pool in the backyard. Inside the pipe, crews could see two baby racoons were stuck. Firefighters, along with animal rescue crews, began the rescue. Using poles and lacrosse sticks, they were able to get two animals out of the drainpipe. 'We had to pull out our pike poless because the vent pipe was so deep,' Neilson said. 'The poor racoon was so tired from being in there.' Racoon rescue Firefighters using poles and lacrosse sticks to pull two racoons from a pool drain pipe. (Ottawa Fire Services/X) Unfortunately, the other baby racoon had died, Neilson said. The surviving animal was rescued after about 10 to 15 minutes of trying to pull it from the drain. 'We had to drag it up by its butt and then hook it out and grab it,' she said. 'It was such an experience.' Neilson believes the two racoons were likely inside the pipe overnight. The animal rescue company at the scene told firefighters they believe the two animals became lost from their mother and were likely trying to find a place to sleep. Animal rescue crews encourage homeowners with pools to purchase a strainer or mesh-like guard around open pipes and drains to prevent small animals from falling through. The racoon was taken to a local rehabilitation centre to recover before being rehomed.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
Kentucky man accused of using raccoon to get back at bar owner
A Kentucky man faces charges for allegedly releasing a raccoon inside a crowded after bar after being being denied entry into the watering hole. The Murray Police Department said on social media that they received a call on the evening of June 6 that an individual had intentionally released a raccoon into an open business. Police said the person had left the scene but was later found driving his vehicle and pulled over by officers. According to police, the man refused to roll down his windows or step outside the vehicle. Cops said they s had to forcefully remove him from the vehicle. Officers soon learned that the man had allegedly released a raccoon into the business and the animal bit a person. It was apparently in response to being told he was not allowed on the property. Jonathan Mason, 40, was arrested and charged with assault, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, and failure of owner to maintain required insurance. A bartender at The Big Apple Grill and Bar said she was working the night of the incident. 'Apparently he had trapped a raccoon earlier in the day on his farm and he had been carrying it around with him,' Mary Hafner told the New York Post. 'I'm a bartender, so you know I've seen some crazy stuff in my time. But nothing like this.' Employees said locals refer to the man as 'Cowboy Cody' as he lives alone on a farm and has caused trouble in the past. According to Hafner, the man was banned from the establishment late last year following an incident involving a mule. The accused man was arrested last December for leading cops on a high-speed drunken mule chase. Drunk mom crashed into canal, left to take bath while toddler drowned: DA 'STOP BLOWING FISH': Animal rights activists slam bar for holding goldfish races Florida Hooters waitress, arrested for DUI, tried to flirt way out after traffic stop
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Fox News
Kentucky man arrested for releasing raccoon into business after previous mule-riding incidents
Quite the wild situation unfolded in small-town Kentucky recently.A Murray, Kentucky, man, who was identified by the Murray Police Department as 40-year-old Jonathan Mason, was arrested for allegedly releasing a raccoon into an open business. According to a Murray Police Department's Facebook post, Mason arrived at the unnamed business around 9:18 p.m. on June 6 and released the animal. The raccoon subsequently bit a patron inside the business, police said. Mason had already previously been warned not to return to the business, according to police. After being pulled over by police, Mason allegedly refused to roll down his window for the officers, who removed Mason from his car. The reportedly rabid raccoon's release inside the business was just the latest in a string of animal-related offenses committed by Mason, police said. In December 2024, police said a "manifestly" drunk Mason rode a mule to a liquor store. When he refused to leave, the police were called. Mason was arrested after trying to ride off on his mule, police said. Some witnesses reportedly told police they saw Mason unnecessarily whip the mule at a different business. The mule was taken away by the police. A few days later, police said Mason tried to take back his mule, also while drunk. Mason was allegedly caught riding his mule down the road and refused to stop. He was arrested again and taken to jail, police said. According to the Murray Police Department, spanning his three arrests, Mason has been charged with two counts of second-degree animal cruelty, third-degree fleeing or evading police, second-degree disorderly conduct, alcohol intoxication in a public place, two counts of third-degree criminal trespassing, two counts of resisting arrest, second-degree assault and failure of owner to maintain required insurance. Fox News Digital reached out to the Murray Police Department for additional comment but has not received a response.
