Orange City residents warned of monkey sightings: 'Do NOT feed or approach'

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Published  December 18, 2024 10:00pm EST
FOX 35 Orlando
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ORANGE CITY, Fla. - Residents in one Central Florida town are on the lookout for monkeys roaming the streets.

The Orange City Police Department warned the public on Monday after they received multiple reports of primate sightings within the city limits. The exact number of loose monkeys remains unknown, but officers are urging residents to exercise caution if they encounter one. "Do NOT feed or approach these animals!," read a post on social media. 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is leading the response to locate the monkeys, whose origin is unknown.

Credit: Orange City Police Department

Police have warned residents never to feed or approach the monkeys, which could promote aggressive behavior.

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In an interview with FOX 35 News, tour boat captain Colin Innes said he recently spotted a monkey, believed to be a rhesus macaque, swinging through the trees along the St. Johns River.

Innes, who runs St. Johns River Eco Tours, said the sighting took him by surprise. 

Credit: Orange City Police Department

"It caught me completely off guard, not something you see in Orange City every day," he said.

Any reported monkey sightings should be sent to Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922, or you can submit a tip here: MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert

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