Florida Police Warn Residents After Multiple Wild Monkey Sightings

Authorities urge caution and prohibit feeding as monkeys roam Orange City and surrounding areas.

Multiple monkey sightings have been reported in Orange City, Deltona, and DeBary, Florida, prompting warnings from local police and wildlife officials.
Residents are advised not to approach or feed the monkeys, as this behavior could encourage aggression and increase human-wildlife conflicts.
The monkeys, possibly rhesus macaques, are nonnative to Florida and may carry diseases such as herpes B and rabies, which can be transmitted through scratches or bites.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading efforts to address the sightings, but the origin of the monkeys remains unclear.
The sightings follow a recent escape of 43 monkeys from a South Carolina research facility, though it is not confirmed if the incidents are connected.