Warning Issued for Wandering Monkeys in Florida Neighborhoods: Keep Your Distance!

Authorities in Orange City, located in central Florida, have cautioned residents after monkeys were spotted roaming residential areas in recent weeks. Following several reports of monkey sightings in Volusia County, the local Police Department urged the community to steer clear of these primates. "Do not feed or approach these animals!" warned officials in a social media alert issued earlier this week.

Residents have also been asked to contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) immediately if they encounter a monkey, for assistance. A 2017 FWC regulation prohibits feeding wild monkeys in Florida, as it "increases human health risks by bringing them into closer contact with people." Experts note that feeding makes primates more likely to return to an area and may lead to aggressive behavior.

The Monkey Sightings Phenomenon

The regulation was introduced to "enhance public safety and mitigate health issues associated with these animals." Recently captured images by Orange City Police show a monkey leisurely strolling along a residential fence, while another photo captures it comfortably perched on the railing, as if posing for social media.

Authorities have not confirmed whether multiple primates or a single monkey have been seen in various locations. Sightings have also occurred in Deltona, another city within Volusia County. "It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime situations you never expect to be part of," a resident of Orange City shared with WESH-TV, an NBC affiliate.

FWC specialists suggested the monkey likely "came from the north." Another local expressed astonishment, noting, "It probably weighed around 50 pounds, though I think it was more than that. It was definitely a large creature!"

Unexpected Encounters and Viral Videos

Fox 35 News spoke with Colin Innes, a boat tour captain, who spotted a monkey among the trees during a river cruise on the St. Johns River last week and recorded the encounter on his phone. The video quickly went viral on social media. "I saw something moving, looked at it, and thought, ‘No, that can't be what I think it is.’ It caught me completely by surprise; it's not something you see in Orange City every day," he recounted.

"I ended up following it for about half an hour, capturing as many videos and photos as I could because it's not something you often see around here," Innes admitted, subsequently notifying the FWC of the animal's presence. Wildlife experts identified it as a rhesus macaque, a species known for its adaptability to various environments. These primates were introduced to Florida, particularly in the Silver Springs State Park area, during the 1930s as part of a tourist attraction.

Meanwhile, the principal of Timbercrest Elementary School in Deltona cautioned parents after witnessing a monkey darting across the student drop-off zone last Wednesday, as reported by CBS News. Isaac Rempe of Affordable Wildlife Removal advised Fox viewers that if they encounter a wild monkey in Florida, "the best and most important thing to do" is report it to the FWC and "leave it alone."

The expert warned, "Do not attempt to capture it on your own. There are several reasons for this. Monkeys are extremely intelligent. They have large teeth! It's not something you want to try to capture because it can cause harm."

In a similar incident last November, 43 monkeys escaped from a research facility in South Carolina, prompting alerts for nearby residents to secure their homes. Four of these monkeys remain on the loose.