In a neighborhood where spotting deer, bobcats, and the occasional bear barely raises an eyebrow, a Longwood backyard got a far more unusual visitor on Wednesday: a monkey.
Homeowner Katie Cowan said she glanced outside and did a double-take when she realized the animal hopping around her yard was about the same size as her dog, S'mores. Once it sank in that she was looking at a primate, not a neighborhood cat, she called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Cowan and her neighbors say that if the monkey comes back, they plan to keep their distance, let it move on, and report any new sightings to authorities.
As reported by WESH, Cowan recalled, "My phone was right here and the monkey was actually way over there," adding that at first she thought she might be looking at a bobcat. According to the WESH report, the monkey appeared to be roughly the same size as S'mores, and Cowan notified FWC about what she saw. The station also pointed to earlier Seminole County primate drama, including a pet monkey named Zeke that got loose in Sanford in both 2012 and 2015.
Video shows primate near Wekiva
As reported by ClickOrlando, a News 6 viewer shared a video that appears to show a monkey wandering through a field near Wekiva Springs State Park. The station suggested the animal may be a rhesus macaque and relayed FWC safety guidance reminding residents not to approach, touch, or feed wild monkeys.
How to report sightings
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks residents to report nonnative animals through its IveGot1 reporting system and Exotic Species Hotline, and to use the Wildlife Alert Hotline for animals that pose an immediate threat. According to FWC, people can call 1-888-483-4681 (888-Ive-Got1) to report exotic species. For immediate threats, see FWC for the 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) Wildlife Alert line and other reporting options. The agency repeatedly warns the public not to feed or approach wild monkeys.
Why the Silver Springs monkeys matter
A University of Florida Extension paper traces Florida's rhesus macaques back to releases at Silver Springs in the 1930s. It warns that the animals can become invasive, harm native wildlife, and carry Herpes B (also known as B virus). The CDC notes that Herpes B is usually asymptomatic in macaques but can cause severe illness in humans following bites or scratches, so anyone injured by a monkey should seek immediate medical care. For more on the history and potential risks, see the University of Florida IFAS and the CDC.
