DEC encouraged staff to work from home Monday if they felt unsafe about threats the agency has received since the squirrel’s death. ALBANY — Employees at the state Department of Environmental Conservation were told they could work from home Monday and ...

Peanut the squirrel, an internet sensation that sparked an animal sanctuary in Pine City, was euthanized this week after being seized from his home along with a rehabilitating raccoon, a statement from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation confirms.

Peanut the squirrel, a social media star seized from his Upstate New York home earlier this week, has been euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC also took a raccoon named Fred from the home of Mark Longo, who lives in Pine City (near Elmira).

This story was updated to add a statement from the DEC. PINE CITY, N.Y. (WETM) — A popular pet squirrel from the Elmira area who inspired his owner to start an animal sanctuary was seized by the DEC on Wednesday morning.

It has not been announced that the bomb threats correlate with the seizure and euthanasia of Peanut the Squirrel.

Bomb threats have been made to eight DEC facilities across the state of New York following the death of Peanut the Squirrel.