Wildlife rehabilitators can legally care for injured or sick squirrels, but the animals can't be pets in many states.

The controversy over Peanut, the pet squirrel and social media sensation seized by the state Department of Environmental ...

Longo ended up feeding baby Peanut for about eight months ... pilot program raises eyebrows Is it legal for squirrels to be kept as pets in NY? The New York Department of Environmental ...

Mark Longo, who called Peanut the Squirrel his pet for this past seven years ... Longo ended up feeding baby Peanut for about eight months before attempting to release him back into the wild.