Peanut, who has amassed more than half a million Instagram followers, was euthanized by officials to be tested for rabies.

Peanut, the Instagram-famous squirrel that was seized from its owner’s home Wednesday, has been euthanized by New York state officials.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation took Peanut, as well as a raccoon named Fred, on Wednesday after the agency learned the animals were “sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies," it said in a joint statement with the Chemung County Department of Health.

Both Peanut and Fred were euthanized to test for rabies, the statement said. It was unclear when the animals were euthanized.

  • JackbyDev@programming.dev
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    16 hours ago

    Also, how is this squirrel going to be infected with rabies after living indoors for 7 years?

    How does one verify the squirrel was actually inside for 7 years after it bites them?

    • CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee
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      15 hours ago

      How does one verify that any mammal they come into contact with doesn’t have rabies? Apparently, it’s an epidemic, and anyone and everyone could have it.

      • JackbyDev@programming.dev
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        13 hours ago

        🚩🚩🚩 Penalty! Moving goal posts! Shepard is attempting to change the discussion from being bitten to merely coming in contact with!

        • CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee
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          12 hours ago

          They euthanized the raccoon too, no? It didn’t bite anyone and was merely in contact with humans.