Lead Investigator Behind P’Nut the Squirrel’s Death Identified as New York State Investigates the Creature’s Demise

The state is investigating how its officers bungled hours raid in upstate New York house that led to the tragic death of internet-famous squirrel P’Nut — as The Post identified the lead investigator behind the rough-and-tumble.

The Department of Environmental Conservation said it is conducting an “internal investigation” into the much-criticized seizure of P’Nut and Fred the raccoon at Mark Longo’s house in Pine City.

Both animals were euthanized and beheaded as the state claimed he tested them for rabies after P’Nut bit one of the officers on the hand during the raid. An unconvinced Longo said the officers were wearing heavy protective gloves.

“An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we can continue to fulfill this core mission,” a DEC spokesperson told The Post on Friday.

But Governor Hochul’s office, the DEC, the state Health Department and the Chemung County Health Department continued to refuse to share the results of any tests on the animals or the status of the allegedly injured official — despite the viral disease being a fatal public health disease. risk.

Hochul promised early in her term to make transparency “the hallmark” of her government. Her office did not respond to several inquiries from The Post.

“You claimed rabies. . . but you haven’t made a public response to it yet?” A heartbroken Longo34, told The Post about the state’s reluctance. “Is my life and what you did to me as a taxpayer not good enough to respond?”

A DEC spokesperson instructed The Post to file a Freedom of Information request in response to multiple requests for rabies test results, which it did, while a dispatcher referred a reporter to a hotline set up where P’Nut callers could leave messages.

“They realize in retrospect that this got out of hand and they didn’t handle it well,” said Sen. Dan Stec (R-Warren) of the state’s response.

“I can’t think of any legitimate reason to keep the rabies test results hidden. It is a matter of public health,” he added. “Where is the state secret here? Whose interests are they protecting?”

On October 30, about 10 DEC agents responded to Longo’s 350-acre estate, where he runs an animal shelter with his wife in addition to caring for Fred and P’Nut in their home. The couple rescued the squirrel seven years ago after its mother was killed by a car and kept it as a pet. Fred was rescued a few months ago.

DEC investigator Joshua Crain executed the search warrant after receiving a signature from Judge Richard W. Rich Jr. the day before. from Chemung County, according to court documents.

The order noted Crain’s suspicions that the couple was unlawfully housing a gray squirrel and raccoon, but made no mention of rabies or other imminent dangers.

Crain was named Wildlife Officer of the Year in 2022 by a conservation-based group, along with the DEC praising a working philosophy, ironically, that “promotes education first and enforcement when necessary.”

“What happened in my house, if you think that was an educational (action) – I don’t know,” Longo said, who plans to file a lawsuit the DEC.

Crain and Rich did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Chemung County Executive Chris Moss declined to comment.

P’Nut’s death did that outraged critics across the countrywho point to the raid as a stark example of government overreach and misplaced priorities.

The official TikTok account of the Donald Trump campaign posted that P’Nut was “needlessly murdered by Democratic bureaucrats in New York.” Longo, who believes that P’Nut’s plight is helped get Trump electedhopes that the newly elected president will visit his refuge.

There is outrage over the squirrel’s death led to at least fourteen bomb threats to DEC offices across the state, none of which were found credible, according to state police spokesman Beau Duffy.

The Police Benevolent Association of New York State, the union representing DEC law enforcement officers, pleaded for calm By Friday, detection of “misinformation” being shared online had led to violent threats against agency staff and a judge.

DEC’s investigation into Longo dated back to January, when the agency first received complaints that Longo had unlawfully harbored a squirrel, the union said. Officials warned him and Longo claimed he had released P’Nut into the wild.

The subsequent raid last week came after the agency received additional complaints, prompting a review of Longo’s social media posts that found he had lied and continued to harbor P’Nut while also taking in a raccoon, the organization noted .

“We ask the public to keep in mind that (DEC officials) are their friends, family and neighbors and do not deserve to live in fear of enforcing the law,” the union said.

Additional reporting by Tina Moore