They’ve been hanging around Florida for decades, but now they’re showing up where no one thought they’d dare.
You know how Florida already has gators, giant snakes, and the occasional peacock strutting through like it owns the place? Well, now you can add wild monkeys. They’ve been here since the 1930s, when a Silver Springs tour operator released a few rhesus macaques on an island for tourists—forgetting they can swim. They didn’t just leave the island. They took Florida.
Over the years, more escaped from roadside zoos, labs, and private homes. With endless food and perfect weather, they’ve thrived. Now they’re not just in the woods—they’re turning up in neighborhoods, raiding bird feeders, and startling joggers. And they’re not leaving.
1. Mount Dora neighbors are now sending monkey alerts.
In Mount Dora, neighbors have started using community email threads to warn each other when the monkey is spotted, like a hyper-local weather report—only this time the “storm” can climb your fence. The most recent sighting had it hanging out near a retention pond before casually fence-hopping through multiple yards.
While it might look like a harmless, curious animal, local animal control says the real danger comes when people try to get close. Monkeys can react fast, and their bites can send you to the hospital. They also carry diseases that can be transferred through scratches or even saliva. Locals suspect it wandered in from the nearby wooded areas that connect to the Wekiva River basin, which is known for sightings. The thing is, with so much connected green space spilling right into suburban streets, it’s almost seamless for them to stroll in without realizing they’ve crossed into human territory.
2. Orange City’s had a primate problem since December.
Orange City residents got their first big monkey headline in December 2024 when police had to put out a citywide warning. Sightings weren’t fleeting; these monkeys stuck around, perching on mailboxes and jumping from roof to roof like it was some kind of playground.
The city made it crystal clear—no feeding, no approaching. Feeding wild monkeys has been illegal in Florida since 2017, and it’s not a slap-on-the-wrist situation. We’re talking serious fines and even possible jail time for repeat offenses. Officials say this isn’t just about discouraging bad habits; feeding makes monkeys bolder, which ramps up the odds of bites, scratches, and all-around dangerous encounters. In this case, the Orange City monkey seemed unfazed by humans, lingering in busy residential streets for days. That comfort level around people is exactly what wildlife officers worry about, because it can turn a quirky backyard sighting into an ugly standoff fast.
3. Groveland had the surprise yard guest of the year.
Spring 2024 gave one Groveland resident a story they’ll probably tell for years. She thought she saw a cat in her backyard, crouched low and moving quickly. Then it stood up. The “cat” turned out to be a monkey, which froze just long enough to make eye contact before disappearing into the trees.
That wasn’t an isolated sighting either—locals say monkeys have been spotted here early in the morning before the streets get busy. Experts think these animals follow water lines and wooded corridors to move between cities, treating backyards as temporary rest stops. Their diet makes them incredibly adaptable—small lizards, ripe fruit, scraps from trash cans, even bird eggs. That means they can survive comfortably in suburban spaces without having to return to the deep woods. In short, if they find what they need in Groveland, they’ll be back, and probably long before anyone has a plan to keep them out.
4. Clermont’s monkeys are basically repeat offenders.
Clermont hasn’t just had one random monkey sighting—it’s had multiple, with some residents claiming they’ve seen the same animal return again and again. Locals believe it’s figured out a route that takes it from wooded patches straight into neighborhoods with easy food sources, like open compost bins and overripe fruit trees.
These repeat visits are what worry wildlife officials most, because once a monkey learns a place offers a reliable snack, it’s almost impossible to break that pattern. Clermont’s geography doesn’t help; the city is surrounded by a patchwork of greenbelts that serve as safe passageways for wildlife. From there, it’s just a short climb over a fence or quick dash across a street to find a backyard buffet. The more comfortable they get, the bolder they become, sometimes sticking around long enough for neighbors to gather and snap pictures before they vanish into the trees again.
5. Deltona’s monkeys don’t even flinch anymore.
In Deltona, the boldness has reached a new level. One was filmed climbing a backyard pergola while dogs barked furiously below. It didn’t even glance down—it just kept moving, scanning the yard like it was inspecting real estate.
That kind of confidence is exactly what concerns wildlife officers, because it means the monkey isn’t just passing through—it’s learning that dogs, people, and other disturbances aren’t real threats. Over time, that can lead to risky behavior, like venturing onto porches, stealing pet food, or rummaging through garages. Deltona is close to other hot zones like Orange City, which makes it a natural part of the monkeys’ roaming territory. Residents are being told to secure food sources and keep a healthy distance, but that’s easier said than done when one decides your pergola is the perfect climbing frame for the afternoon.
6. DeBary got its monkey sighting at sunrise.
DeBary residents woke up to their own viral-worthy wildlife moment when a monkey was spotted walking down a residential street just after sunrise. Several homeowners filmed it before it hopped into a backyard and vanished into thick tree cover.
Wildlife officers say this is a perfect example of how these animals travel undetected—they move early, stick to shaded areas, and disappear quickly when spooked. DeBary’s layout, with its mix of open lawns and dense vegetation, gives them easy escape routes in every direction. By the time animal control responds, the monkey is usually long gone. That ability to slip in and out of neighborhoods undetected makes managing the population incredibly challenging. It also means residents might be seeing the same monkey multiple times without realizing it’s been looping back through for days.
7. Ocala’s been in the monkey game for decades.
Unlike the newer hotspots, Ocala has been dealing with wild monkeys for generations. Most of them are descendants of the original Silver Springs introductions from the 1930s, and they’ve spread far beyond their starting point. Locals here are used to spotting them near rivers, parks, and now even residential backyards.
Ocala’s prime location—bordered by forested areas and waterways—makes it easy for the monkeys to travel and find food. Over the years, sightings have shifted from being mostly inside the Silver Springs park boundaries to popping up across the city. While Ocala residents might be more accustomed to their presence, that doesn’t make them any safer. Wildlife officials still warn that even long-established monkeys are unpredictable and can become aggressive without warning, especially if they feel cornered or are protecting young. The reality is, Ocala’s not losing its monkeys anytime soon; if anything, they’re expanding.
8. Eustis got an unexpected swing set visitor.
Earlier this year, Eustis residents started sharing photos of a monkey perched casually on a backyard swing set, like it was waiting for a push. It hung around for nearly a week before moving on, popping up in different yards each day.
Wildlife officials think it was exploring from a neighboring city, likely Mount Dora or another connected area. Eustis is a prime layover spot for roaming animals—quiet streets, food sources like fruit trees, and enough tree cover for quick escapes. The longer a monkey spends in one neighborhood, the more likely it is to leave behind signs—broken branches, raided bird feeders, or even stolen fruit. While many locals just snap pictures and post them online, wildlife experts stress that these sightings are part of a much larger pattern of expansion, not just random visits.
9. Leesburg’s monkeys are turning up lakeside.
Leesburg has had some of the most scenic monkey sightings—lakeshore neighborhoods watching them dash along docks or leap onto boats tied up to the shore. As picturesque as it sounds, it’s a risky situation for both people and animals. A startled monkey on a boat can cause chaos, and the risk of injury goes up if it feels trapped.
Leesburg’s lakes provide everything they need—fresh water, shade, and easy food in the form of fishing scraps and fruit trees. Once they find an area like this, there’s very little incentive to leave. Residents are being told to secure trash bins and remove tempting food sources, but the challenge is that lakeside communities naturally attract wildlife, and these monkeys are no different. In fact, the presence of water might make these spots even more appealing as summer heat intensifies.
10. Sanford might be next on their travel list.
Sanford sightings aren’t as common yet, but there have been enough to put the city on the watchlist. One memorable report involved a monkey darting through a neighborhood park before disappearing into a cluster of palm trees. Sanford sits along natural wildlife corridors, making it an ideal crossing point for monkeys pushing further south.
If sightings here start to increase, it could mean their range is steadily expanding into new urban areas. Wildlife officials say the key for residents is to avoid engaging with the animals, no matter how tempting it might be to grab a photo or offer food. For now, Sanford’s sightings are sporadic, but given the history of expansion in other Florida cities, it might just be a matter of time before seeing a monkey on your morning walk becomes, oddly enough, part of the routine.