On the Media – “The Viral Outrage Over Peanut the Squirrel”
(WNYC Studios, September 3, 2025)

Overview

This episode delves into the saga of Peanut the Squirrel—a stray-turned-pet who became a social media celebrity, only to be seized (and ultimately euthanized) by New York State authorities amid accusations of illegal wildlife possession. Hosts and guests unpack the resulting nationwide outrage, the impact of internet culture wars, the devastating effects on bystanders, and lasting changes in government procedure. Through newly obtained records, the episode explores how a viral animal story ballooned into a full-blown political and cultural flashpoint.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Peanut the Squirrel (00:00–04:22)

• Incident Summary: The viral saga began when New York environmental officers raided the home of Mark Longo, seizing his pet squirrel, Peanut.
• Internet Uproar: Outrage rapidly spread online, pulling in high-profile figures like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk, and consuming wildlife authorities in controversy.
• Mistaken Identity Fallout: Innocent bystanders—especially women named Monica—were misidentified and harassed, facing an avalanche of hateful messages.

  “They were just saying nasty, vile things... You're a killer. You're horrible. You should go to hell.” — Monica Hector, (01:58)

2. Who Was Peanut, and How Did He Go Viral? (04:41–09:04)

• Squirrel Internet Subculture: Reporter John Campbell describes the robust online fanbase for squirrels, with Peanut being a social media star.

  “Did you even know that [squirrel social media] existed?” — John Campbell, (04:49)

• Peanut’s Origins: Owner Mark Longo recounts how he rescued a baby squirrel in Manhattan, attempted to release him, but ended up raising him indoors after an attack.
• Rise to Fame: Mark leveraged Peanut’s celebrity, creating “Peanut’s Freedom Farm” animal sanctuary and fundraising through social media.

3. The Legal Trouble (09:04–15:23)

• Wildlife Regulations: It is illegal in New York to keep a squirrel as a pet without specific licenses. Mark Longo lacked these though he later began the process.
• Escalating Complaints: Wildlife officials began receiving multiple complaints regarding Peanut’s presence online—and about a raccoon, Fred, at the farm.

  “It’s not something that we mess around with in any sort of way.” — Matt Krug, Environmental Conservation Police Union, on raccoon rabies risks (12:35)

• The Raid: Authorities executed a search warrant, seizing Peanut (hidden in a tub) and Fred (found in a closet). Mark describes the experience as traumatic and decried the officers’ actions.

  “They even asked my wife her immigration status...I called my wife... told her, hide those animals.” — Mark Longo, (13:17)

• Potential Bite Incident: During seizure, an officer was reportedly bitten by Peanut—a detail disputed by Mark.

4. The Aftermath: Euthanasia and Viral Outrage (15:50–20:41)

• Rabies Protocol: Because of the reported bite, health officials required euthanasia and decapitation to test for rabies (tests were negative).

  “The only way you can do that, you have to put them down and decapitate them to look at their brain.” — John Campbell, (19:12) “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.” — Mark Longo (19:12)

• Public Backlash: Peanut’s death triggered an explosive reaction online, with mainstream and right-wing media coverage, celebrity commentary, and politicization during a heated election season.

  “Is it really the case that the Democrats murdered the Elon Musk of squirrels?” — J.D. Vance, (20:25)

5. Misplaced Vengeance: The “Monica” Witch Hunt (20:57–23:41)

• Mistaken Identity: A photographer, Monica Kiesler, wrongly accused within online squirrel rehab circles, was doxxed and harassed, despite no involvement.

  “Once her name was out there, those other Monicas who were photographers, they start getting targeted too.” — John Campbell, (21:20)

• Collateral Damage: Unrelated Monicas (like Monica Hector in Missouri and another in California) received death threats, had their businesses destroyed, and faced ongoing trauma.

  “They were telling me that I should kill myself. They said, I hope your kids die... Granted, I didn’t do anything. It’s just not a good time for Monica’s.” — California Monica, (23:30–23:41)

6. Threats, Bomb Scares, and Agency Turmoil (23:49–25:13)

• Threats to Agencies: The Department of Environmental Conservation and its officers faced hundreds of threats, bomb scares, and doxxing—requiring police protection for leadership and their families.

  “There were bomb threats...forced thousands of workers to work from home... their families too.” — John Campbell, (24:11–25:06)

7. Lasting Impact & Broader Implications (25:27–31:07)

• Mark Longo’s View: Mark distances himself from threats, claims he pushed for legal and peaceful protest, and describes financial and emotional loss.

  “I've always been somebody that said, hey, we're going to fight this fight. We're going to do it the legal way. The last thing I wanted anybody to do is go out and threaten anybody.” — Mark Longo, (25:43)

• Changes in Agency Operations: DEC temporarily halted wildlife seizures, required heightened approval for warrants, and morale plummeted; at least one long-serving officer quit.

  “After we got through all the threats, we weren’t allowed to do any wildlife seizures for months and months and months.” — Matt Krug, (27:57) “We were essentially handcuffed to do our jobs after that.” — Matt Krug, (28:47)

• Push for Legal Reform: Mark advocates for “Peanut’s Law” (rabies quarantine in lieu of euthanasia), but passage is a long shot.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You're a killer. You're horrible. You should go to hell...”
  — Monica Hector, describing harassment (01:58)

• “Why would you kill that cute little squirrel...It was really cute.”
  — Joe Rogan, podcast commentary (20:35)

• “It makes me sick. There were bomb threats...Their families too.”
  — John Campbell, on threat volume following Peanut's killing (24:11–25:06)

• “We were essentially handcuffed to do our jobs after that.”
  — Matt Krug, on the chilling effect in state wildlife enforcement (28:47)

• “If it was a poor kid in downtown Albany...he’d already be in state prison. ...instead it’s a social media quote-unquote star and utilizing all the press and publicity and hasn’t been charged yet, but he should be.”
  — Matt Krug, on perceived double standards post-raid (29:52)

Timeline & Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00–04:22: Introduction, overview of Peanut’s case, mistaken identity begins
• 04:41–06:41: Squirrel social media culture, Peanut’s rescue story
• 06:41–09:04: Peanut’s rise to internet fame, creation of animal sanctuary
• 09:04–15:23: Legal background, mounting complaints, raid and seizures
• 15:50–20:41: Rabies protocols and euthanasia, national media response
• 20:57–23:41: The Monica witch hunt, stories of misidentified bystanders
• 23:49–25:13: Volume, severity of threats, agency staff crisis
• 25:27–29:00: Mark Longo’s perspectives, agency operational fallout
• 29:00–31:07: Calls for reform, career impacts, closing thoughts

Conclusion

The Peanut the Squirrel saga illustrates how viral outrage, fueled by media and political actors, can trigger real-world consequences far beyond its origins: destroying lives and livelihoods of bystanders, stalling government operations, and inflaming partisan divides. Through original records and human stories, this episode exposes both the fragilities of internet-era justice and the deep complexities of enforcement in the spotlight of mass digital scrutiny.