What’s The Skinny? Can You Own a Pet Squirrel in Iowa?

A few days ago the New York Department of Environmental Conservation confiscated Peanut the Squirrel.  Peanut is not only a squirrel but a social media sensation with 534,000 followers on Instagram  Those followers were not happy and content creator Mark Longo is looking for answers.

How Did Peanut Become a Star?

Meet Peanut, the rescue squirrel who’s been living the good life under the watchful eye of Mark Longo for seven years! Longo’s adventure with Peanut started in quite a dramatic fashion when he spotted Peanut’s mom getting hit by a car. Talk about a rough start for little Peanut, who found himself orphaned and in need of a hero.

Longo tried to find a shelter to take in the tiny furball, but it turns out there weren’t many squirrel rescue centers ready to help out! So, what did he do? He became Peanut’s personal chef, and guardian, feeding the little guy for about eight months. That’s right, eight months of squirrel gourmet dining! He got the mother load, nuts, seeds, fruits, and an added bonus, waffles, Lucky squirrel! You can see him chomp away in the video below.

After all that TLC, Longo decided it was time to give Peanut a taste of the wild again. But let’s just say, Peanut had other plans, he liked the cozy life way too much! Who knew squirrel parenting could be so entertaining?

Mark set up the P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary for the animals who need a second chance.  Maybe they did a few years upstate and now want a regular life and this is it.

Why Did They Take Peanut?

According to USA Today The New York Department of Environmental Conservation says it is highly illegal to keep young wildlife as pets.  I might have added the highly part but it's still illegal. If you find an injured or orphaned young animal, the department recommends making a call to a wildlife rehabilitator.  Legally they are the only people who can receive and/or treat distressed wildlife.

The NYDEC feels if you rehab a squirrel and let it go it could become a problem in the community getting into places it shouldn't be and eating things and wrecking stuff.  Uh, I think young kids do that too, getting into things they shouldn't, wrecking things, acting wild, moving into the basement and not leaving and so far we haven't outlawed owning them.  But I digress.

Is it dangerous to Own Wildlife?

Uh, Yeah! But there are exceptions to every rule.  Sure, most squirrels or wildlife shouldn't be in your house.  Every few hundred thousand or million, whatever the number, yes, we can have one or two.  It's the way the world works.  You might not be the one, but ya never know who will be.  I have a feeling Peanut was doing just fine but there's always someone who is happy being miserable and will take you down with them.

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Can You Have A Pet Squirrel in Iowa?

Do you consider a squirrel to be a dangerous wild animal? The Iowa Legislature does and prohibits owning, possessing, and breeding dangerous wild animals.  That is unless you got a permit but that permit had to be obtained by 2007.  So, with it not being 2007, you're out of luck unless you have a properly outfitted Delorean,

The animals included are non-domestic cats and dogs, bears, primates, elephants, there goes my emotional support elephant, rhinos, and many reptiles.

What If You're Caught with Wildlife in Iowa?

You're in big trouble now, Chapter 717F, now you've gone and done it, violation of the dangerous wild animal law can result in big-time fines between $200 and $2,000, for each dangerous wild animal involved.