The beloved on-line superstar, a squirrel recognized affectionately as Peanut, finds himself in a troubling scenario.

This furry star—who has captivated an viewers of over 536,000 followers on Instagram and greater than 424,000 followers on Facebook—was taken by New York’s state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on October 30, as confirmed by his proprietor, Mark Longo, by way of social media channels.

“The NY State DEC arrived at my home and removed Peanut,” he expressed in a heartfelt Instagram publish. “He was taken to be EUTHANIZED,” elevating issues amongst his fanbase.

Longo shared his deep emotional misery, stating, “For the last seven years, Peanut has been my closest companion. He has been at the heart of my life and many of yours for such a long time; I am struggling to cope with this loss.”

This charming squirrel gained fame by way of a wide range of pleasant movies showcasing his antics, which embody performing methods, strutting in miniature outfits, and indulging in waffles, amongst different entertaining actions.

A consultant from the DEC knowledgeable the Associated Press that they initiated an investigation attributable to “multiple public reports concerning the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could transmit rabies, as well as the illegal keeping of wildlife as domestic pets.”