Monkey Shot Dead by Homeowner After Escape in Mississippi

Mon Nov 03 2025 09:41:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A rhesus monkey that escaped from a truck after an accident in Mississippi was shot by a homeowner who feared for her children's safety, sparking discussions about wildlife and public safety.

In Heidelberg, Mississippi, a monkey that escaped after a truck carrying research monkeys overturned was shot by local resident Jessica Bond Ferguson. After her son reported spotting the monkey, Ferguson, concerned about potential diseases, fired at the animal to protect her children. The incident raised questions about the management of escaped wildlife and public awareness of associated risks.

HEIDELBERG, Miss. (PulseWire) — A rhesus monkey that escaped from a truck after a road accident in Heidelberg, Mississippi, was shot and killed on Sunday by a local homeowner, Jessica Bond Ferguson. Ferguson stated that she acted out of concern for her children's safety after her son spotted the monkey in their yard.

Ferguson reported that she had been warned about the diseases that these monkeys could carry, prompting her to take action with her firearm. I did what any other mother would do to protect her children, she recounted. Witnesses noted that she shot at the monkey twice before it fell.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident and stated that the monkey was taken into custody by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

The rhesus monkeys involved had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tulane clarified that the monkeys were not part of their institution's research and were not being transported by them at the time of the accident.

This incident raises concerns regarding wildlife management and public safety, emphasizing the need for awareness about the risks associated with escaped exotic animals.