UPDATE: A Mississippi mother shot and killed an escaped monkey early Sunday, fearing for the safety of her children. The incident unfolded just after dawn in Heidelberg, Mississippi, where Jessica Bond Ferguson, 35, responded to her son’s alarming report of a monkey sighting in their yard.
Ferguson quickly grabbed her firearm and stepped outside, where she spotted the monkey approximately 60 feet away. “I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” she told The Associated Press. “I shot at it, and it just stood there, and I shot again, and that’s when he fell.”
The urgency of her actions stems from warnings issued to local residents about the escaped monkeys potentially carrying diseases. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a homeowner had found the monkey on their property, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks later took possession of the animal.
Ferguson had called the police prior to confronting the monkey, who advised her to observe it. “If it attacked somebody’s kid, and I could have stopped it, that would be a lot on me,” she expressed, highlighting the community’s fear. With five children aged between 4 to 16, her protective instincts were heightened by the presence of the wild animal.
The escaped monkeys are Rhesus macaques, which had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans. They were not being transported by the university when a truck overturned on October 24, 2023, on Interstate 59, resulting in an escape of 21 monkeys. Of those, 13 were found at the scene, while another five were killed during recovery efforts. As of Sunday, three remained at large before Ferguson’s encounter.
Authorities are investigating the crash that caused the incident, which occurred approximately 100 miles from Jackson, Mississippi. Video footage captured after the accident showed monkeys scurrying through grass beside the interstate, as crates labeled “live animals” lay scattered around.
Despite initial concerns about the monkeys being infectious, Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson reported that Tulane officials confirmed the animals were pathogen-free after recent checkups. However, Johnson stated the monkeys required “neutralization” due to their potentially aggressive behavior.
The Rhesus monkeys are known for their aggressive nature, raising alarms among local parents. Just last year, a similar situation arose when 43 Rhesus macaques escaped from a breeding facility in South Carolina, emphasizing the ongoing challenges of managing these animals.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by escaped wildlife, and the emotional toll it can take on communities. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the remaining monkeys.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
