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Owners of Internet-Famous Squirrel P’Nut Seek $10 Million From New York in Court of Claims Suit

They allege state agents planned the animals’ killing before seizing them for rabies tests that ultimately proved negative.

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peanut the squirrel with his owner
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Pictures of Peanut the squirrel and his owner Mark. Peanut was recently seized by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Overview

  • Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner filed a $10 million claim in New York Court of Claims in August 2025, alleging the state unlawfully seized and premeditatedly euthanized P’Nut and Fred.
  • The owners say DEC and DOH agents planned the animals’ killing before raiding their Pine City sanctuary to conduct rabies tests that later returned negative.
  • They contend the deaths caused emotional distress and financial losses tied to P’Nut’s income-generating social media and content ventures.
  • Their earlier lawsuit, filed on June 27 in Chemung County Supreme Court, names local and state officials and is still pending.
  • Following public outrage over the 2024 raid, New York enacted 'Peanut’s Law' for wildlife due process and the DEC has promised policy reforms.