Watch: Florida city issues warning after monkey sightings
Mount Dora is reminding residents to keep a safe distance after multiple wild monkey sightings around town. A rhesus macaque was photographed last month outside the Lakeside Inn, another was caught on camera July 15 at Gilbert Park, and a resident spotted one near a shopping plaza. The watch Florida city issues warning treats the animals as wild, feral wildlife.
Key Takeaways
- Mount Dora posted a social media warning Monday after several wild monkey reports.
- Sightings include Lakeside Inn last month, Gilbert Park on July 15, and a shopping plaza last week.
- Officials say the animals are wild and feral and should be viewed from a safe distance.
- Mount Dora sits about 12 miles from Silver Springs, home to a long-established monkey population.
What prompted Mount Dora to warn residents?
The City of Mount Dora said it had received reports of monkey sightings within city limits. On Monday, officials used social media to urge people not to approach the animals.
"We have received reports of monkey sightings within the city. While seeing a monkey may be unusual, please remember they are wild, feral animals and should be admired from a safe distance," the city post said, according to UPI.
The message puts public safety first: enjoy the odd Florida moment, but do not treat a macaque like a neighborhood pet. For more strange Sunshine State wildlife stories, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage.
Where have the monkeys been seen?
Reports point to more than one location. A wild rhesus macaque was photographed last month outside the Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora. Another monkey was caught on camera July 15 at Gilbert Park.
Resident Priscilla Spears told WESH-TV she spotted a monkey near a Mount Dora shopping plaza last week. She first thought someone had a dog near a busy road, then realized it was a monkey as she got closer.
"I was like, 'Who would have their dog out on a busy road?' And as I got closer, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, that's a monkey,'" Spears said.
Why are wild monkeys turning up near Mount Dora?
Mount Dora is located about 12 miles from Silver Springs, where a wild monkey population has lived for decades. The animals were brought to an island that is now part of Silver Springs State Park by a tour boat operator in 1938.
The operator did not realize the rhesus macaques were strong swimmers. They quickly escaped the island, and a wild population has remained in the area ever since.
That history helps explain why macaques can appear in nearby communities, even if a monkey on a plaza or park path still feels surreal to residents.
Should people approach or feed the monkeys?
City officials are clear: keep your distance. The animals may look curious or entertaining on camera, but they are wild and feral. Approaching or feeding them can create risk for people and for the monkeys.
The safer move is simple. Watch from afar, share a photo if you must, and let wildlife officials handle any animal that seems injured, aggressive, or trapped in a busy public space.
Florida's wildlife surprises rarely stop at one species. On the same news cycle, a Palm Bay family found an 8-foot alligator at their front door after a security camera alert, another reminder that local animals can show up where people least expect them.