Overview
- Neighbors in Longwood recorded a monkey moving through a backyard earlier this week and contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to report the encounter.
- Residents say the FWC advised them not to approach or feed the animal and that the agency would document the sighting, but there has been no official confirmation of capture or species identification.
- At least one resident and video accounts identified the animal as a rhesus macaque, though that classification remains unverified by wildlife officials.
- Reporters placed the sighting in the context of Florida’s known free‑ranging macaque history, noting the Silver Springs population established in 1938 and past Seminole County pet escapes in 2012 and 2015.
- Homeowners say they will leave the animal alone if it returns, and officials encourage the public to use the FWC app, website, or hotline to report any further sightings so professionals can assess and respond.