OLDSMAR, FL -- Another monkey has been spotted, this time in a Pinellas County neighborhood.
Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies and Fish and Wildlife officers searched the area around the Sabal Palms Apartments, located on 1355 Bay Harbor Drive.
Someone spotted the monkey, which is approximately 30 lbs. and possibly a member of the macaque family and called FWC.
Residents desperately tried to sneak a peak at the intruder, like Teri Wilcox. The animal was seen in tree tops and on rooftops in the area of the apartment complex.
"It was almost a two hour chase of more than a hundred people going around the apartment complex it was great.", she said.
Not the typical reaction when one learns someone has invaded their neighborhood, that's because it was something. Residents snapped photos of the monkey.
Elise DiCanio couldn't stop looking.
"You wouldn't call that a monkey it looks more like an ape."
She added the 30 pound creature did create havoc.
"The police were more nervous than anyone else they were telling everybody to get in the house and stay back."
DiCanio, like her neighbors was to entranced to stay away.
"It was amazing."
But, in the end it was to much drama for the monkey, who ran up the stairs-finally ending up on the roof and then disappearing into the woods. DiCanio said,
"He was literally sitting on our steps then he started crying."
Florida Fish and Wildlife officers believe the macaque is far away from home. They think he is part of a colony that has made its home in Ocala after being brought to Florida from Africa and Japan.
The species was originally brought to Silver Springs to star in tv shows.
In the past few months, there have plenty of pictures of this particular monkey . Officers believe he is the same one caught on camera by a TPD helicopter lounging in an oak tree and the same one spotted roaming a clearwater neighborhood.
They have issued stern warnings to stay away. Gary Morse with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said, "You do not want to corner these animals. They can become very defensive and can bite."
For DiCanio, Wilcox and dozens of their neighbors, danger was far from their minds. Wilcox said,
"They are supposed to be cute little things that wear the diaper that hold you around the neck."
