Wildlife possession is prohibited in New York State, including popular Instagram animal P’Nut, despite their large following.
P’Nut, a beloved pet squirrel with a large following on Instagram, was taken by government authorities in Pine City, N.Y. Mark Longo, the squirrel’s owner, rescued P’Nut seven years ago in New York City after his mother was killed by a car. P’Nut approached Mr. Longo and they formed a bond. Initially, P’Nut was released into the backyard but was later brought indoors after being attacked by other animals and losing part of his tail.
Living a cage-free life, P’Nut had his own room and roamed freely around the house when Mr. Longo and his wife were present. P’Nut’s charming and sassy personality captured the hearts of not only the Longos but also the online community. With regular posts of photos and videos, P’Nut gained a massive following of over 500,000 on Instagram.
However, the situation took a turn when officials from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation arrived at the Longos’ residence in Pine City, a town near Elmira in the Southern Tier of New York.
Source: The NY Times
