Orange City, Florida– Residents of a city in Florida are keeping an eye on monkeys roaming the streets.
The Orange City Police Department warned the public Monday after receiving multiple reports of primate sightings within city limits.
The exact number of spotted monkeys remains unknown, but officials are urging residents to take precautions if they encounter them.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is leading the response to locate the monkeys, whose origins are unknown.
Police have warned residents to never feed or approach the monkeys, as this could encourage aggressive behavior of the monkeys.
Tour boat captain Colin Innes spotted a monkey, believed to be a rhesus macaque, hanging in the trees along the St. Johns River, reports Fox 35 in Orlando.
Innes, who runs St. Johns River Eco Tours, said the sight took him by surprise.
“It completely shocked me, not something you see every day in Orange City,” he told FOX 35.
Any monkey sightings should be reported to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
