Tag: Squirrel!

The Peanut the Squirrel confiscation and controversy, explained

This has blown up on social media.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Are you hearing about a squirrel that got confiscated and people on social media are losing their minds over it? And you’re confused? If so, we’re here to help.

That’s pretty much it. There’s a famous squirrel that just got confiscated, and people are up in arms about it. We’ll see how this story continues to develop, but for now, we’re here to help you learn more about a squirrel that goes by the name of Peanut.

Let’s dive in:

Wait, what’s that about Peanut the Squirrel?

Peanut the Squirrel is a much-followed social media star that also goes by PNUT. He belongs to a guy named Mark Longo. Peanut does some tricks, jumps on Longo and has been seen eating this like waffles.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAmQG2IS-o_/

What happened to Peanut the Squirrel?

Longo reported that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation showed up, took Peanut and it sounds like he was told that the squirrel would be euthanized.

“Peanut has been my best friend. He’s been the center of my world and many of yours for so long, I don’t know how to process this, emotionally,” he wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBwhVpdymnG/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=3fa71eb4-0fe6-4774-9a67-0c9a6bd5b680

Why was Peanut taken?

Per a statement from the department to USA TODAY:

“Following multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets, DEC conducted an investigation. DEC’s investigation is ongoing and additional information will be provided as it becomes available.”

Is anyone trying to get Peanut back?

Yes. There’s a GoFundMe and a Change.org petition. Longo thanked everyone for the support.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBzWJDryHZg/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a6697174-73d8-4f0e-94eb-cc7bf5c385c2

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Watch: Wolf pup learns hard way that squirrels will fight back

Extraordinary trail-cam footage shows the young wolf receiving at least two bites to its snout while trying to secure its meal.

Trail-cam footage captured recently in Minnesota shows a wolf pup discovering that capturing squirrels can involve painful consequences.

“This wolf pup learned that squirrel bites on the nose don’t feel so good,” the Voyageurs Wolf Project stated via X.

The footage opens with a slow-motion sequence in which the pup sends the squirrel flying after receiving a bite on the tip of its snout.

It picks up with more of the hunt, at regular speed and in slow motion, including a second bite to the snout.

One viewer described the action as a “food fight.”

The footage certainly underscores that life as a young predator includes working hard for just about every meal.

The Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem is a vast boreal forest that includes Voyageurs National Park. The Voyagers Wolf Project, with the help of trail cameras, studies wolves in the region.

Can you spot the Yellowstone critter spying the coyote?

While stuck in a bear jam last May in Yellowstone National Park, I spotted a coyote that was being closely watched by a potential prey. Can you spot the smaller critter?

Last May in Yellowstone National Park I observed more bears in three days (14) than I observed during all prior trips later in the season.

I spent hours in “bear jams,” standing outside my vehicle while trying to spot and photograph bruins at various safe distances.

During one sighting, involving a cinnamon-colored black bear and two cubs, I looked back across the highway and spotted a coyote trotting behind the mass of cars and people.

Coyote bypassing a Yellowstone bear jam, closely watched. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

I snapped a photo before turning back to face the bears. It wasn’t until hours later, while checking my images, that I noticed another critter closely watching the coyote.

The image is posted above and a question for readers: How quickly can you spot the critter? (Answer below.)

Most photographers expressed only a passing interest in the coyote; they were laser-focused on the bears.

Cinnamon-colored black bear. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

Momma bear was large and her coat lustrous. She napped briefly while her cubs scampered up a tree and hid in the branches.

Some argued that she was a grizzly because she was not black like most black bears. Others noted that she had the face and pointed ears of a black bear, and lacked the telltale grizzly bear shoulder hump.

Almost all spectators were outside their vehicles and some were in violation of the park’s 100-yard distance rule.

Momma black bear with cubs. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

As more people crept closer for better photo opportunities, the bear management team shut down the viewing session and ordered everyone to leave.

The tourists complied. But as often happens in Yellowstone, many returned within minutes after the bear management team had departed. I saw the new jam forming after turning around and driving past the sighting area, then continued east toward Tower-Roosevelt.

My good fortune continued when another momma black bear (with black fur) and two cubs emerged along the side of the road, where they foraged on grass.

Likely ground squirrel watching the coyote. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

I photographed them for several minutes before a crowd began to gather, then I continued east into Lamar Valley.

The coyote remained an afterthought until I was back in my hotel room in Gardiner. I almost disregarded the image but noticed the ground squirrel at the top of the frame,  intently watching the squirrel-eating coyote.

The squirrel is circled in red in the image posted above.

The Yankees fans terrified by a squirrel have inevitably turned into a meme

The OMG SQUIRREL memes are everywhere.

You knew this was going to happen as soon as the viral clip hit Twitter: A slow-motion video of a squirrel running in front of a bunch of surprised New York Yankees fans has become meme.

The specifics here: People are taking the audio and switching it up to some funny stuff, from new music to the (fake) sounds of the reactions from the fans who were completely shocked as the little guy scampered across the wall in front of them.

And there are also your typical memes with the fan reactions.

It’s really too funny and a reminder that squirrels at sporting events always make for good content.

Check out the original and the memes below:

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These Yankees fans were comically stunned to see a squirrel run past them

These Yankees fans looked like they’d never seen a squirrel before.

During the New York Yankees’ Tuesday night home stand against the Baltimore Orioles, a squirrel took center stage and absolutely freaked out an entire row of Yankees fans.

Yes, the camera caught a squirrel scurrying across part of Yankees Stadium as the New York fans in the stands all looked in shock and awe as the little fella just went right by them before jumping off the perch.

Don’t worry; the broadcasters seemed to indicate the squirrel was just fine as it jumped out of the stands onto the ground.

However, the reaction from these Yankees fans is just too good to ignore.

Have you ever reacted to a squirrel like that? Like, c’mon, this is the absolute pinnacle of reactions to animals just doing animal things.

This squirrel probably had no idea that it was being filmed and that it was going to go viral, and neither did these fans.

However, you just never know when a squirrel is going to run past you when you’re watching a baseball game and how you’re going to react to it.

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