Guests at Mount Dora’s historic Lakeside Inn got an unexpected bit of wildlife theater this week when a curious monkey strolled onto the veranda, paused for a quick look around, then moved on. Staff snapped photos, shared the encounter on the inn’s social feed, and called wildlife authorities. By the time specialists arrived, the surprise visitor had already left the property.
The sighting quickly landed on local TV, and the inn’s post noted that chatter about a monkey near nearby Gilbert Park had already been circulating online. Staff says they reached out to wildlife officials and specialists to report what they saw. According to WFTV, the animal was gone before experts made it to the inn.
Not So Unusual For Central Florida
Rhesus macaques were deliberately released near Silver Springs in the 1930s and have maintained free-ranging populations along the Silver River ever since. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, those macaques have adapted to human-dominated habitats and can travel widely, which helps explain stray sightings around Lake County.
What Scientists Warn
A study in the CDC’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases found that some Silver Springs macaques can intermittently shed macacine herpesvirus 1 (B virus), meaning contact with saliva or bodily fluids poses a low-probability but serious health risk to humans. According to Emerging Infectious Diseases, documented human infections from free-ranging animals are rare, but the potential severity of B virus supports avoiding direct contact and planning management steps to reduce transmission.
How To Report A Sighting
Wildlife officials advise anyone who spots a monkey to watch from a safe distance, avoid feeding or approaching it, and leave any handling to professionals. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directs residents to call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC or submit tips through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website for assistance.
Monkeys have turned up in local neighborhoods before. In April 2025, FOX 35 Orlando reported a monkey roaming the Sullivan Ranch subdivision and an HOA warning that residents should not try to catch or feed the animal - a reminder of why authorities ask for reports instead of do-it-yourself rescues.
For Lakeside Inn guests, the encounter amounted to a quick bit of old-Florida spectacle: a wandering primate, a few photos, and some nervous laughter. As staff put it, the monkey "would not be joining the hospitality team," per WFTV. Officials say the best souvenir is a photo taken from a safe distance and a call to wildlife authorities if the monkey makes a return appearance.
