Wild Monkeys Are Taking Over Florida Neighborhood
Living in Florida you get used to seeing wild animals roaming around. It could be large birds, iguanas, manatees or even alligators but one Florida neighborhood is seeing an influx of wild monkeys. One father spotted a monkey while he was trying to pick up his daughter at school.
Wild Monkeys Taking Over Florida School:
At first the father thought it was a dog or cat roaming around the school but as he got closer, he realized it was a wild monkey. The monkey looked like a rhesus macaque, an old-world species which is Chinese and Indian-derived. The monkey was walking around Lake County school freely without a care in the world. Although the father thought the animal was adorable, he was worried that the kids in the area could be in trouble.
If you encounter one of these wild monkeys, it’s important to not get too close. Many carry diseases and could potentially attack at any moment, especially if provoked. According to Wikipedia, “The rhesus macaque is diurnal arboreal, and terrestrial. It is mostly herbivorous, feeding mainly on fruit, but also eating seeds, roots, buds, bark, and cereals, and consumes around 99 different plant species.” The species Rhesus macaques often lives in cities and will eat human food and trash.
These monkeys actually pose a threat to public health because rhesus macaques in Florida have tested positive for herpes B. Although the viral infection is extremely rare it can cause serious damage especially if left untreated. Having this disease can lead to severe brain damage or even death. The virus can be transmitted in the wild monkeys through bites, scratches or even bodily fluids. Because this has been such an issue the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) they passed a law making it illegal for locals to feed any wild monkeys. Fun fact! There’s a rhesus monkey tracker, so you can follow these monkey’s and see which counties have the most sightings.
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Alligator Lake, Florida
Not far from Disney World this is a big fisherman spot. This lake has a ton of bass, bluegill and redear sunfish.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
