Instagram sensation Peanut the squirrel euthanised

New York - A squirrel named Peanut who was propelled to the heights of internet celebrity has been euthanised, New York authorities said on Friday, biting a government staffer on the way out.

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With 537,000 followers on Instagram, the domesticated black squirrel had fans around the world who delighted in his exploits, such as nibbling on waffles and donning tiny costumes.

New Yorker Mark Longo said he rescued the animal after seeing its mother killed by a car, going on to bottle-feed the baby squirrel before attempting to release him into the wild.