A New York man who turned a rescued squirrel into a social media star is pleading with state wildlife officials to return his beloved pet. Multiple anonymous complaints about Peanut — also spelled P'Nut or PNUT — brought at least six officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to Mark Longo's home near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City on Wednesday. The officers left with Peanut, who amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms during his seven years with Longo. They also took Fred the raccoon, a more recent addition to the family. A spokesperson for the DEC said in a statement that the agency started an investigation after receiving “multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets.” Longo, who runs an animal refuge inspired by his squirrel buddy called P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, took to Instagram to mourn Peanut's loss. #news #newyork