A Mississippi mother shot and killed an aggressive monkey that had escaped from an overturned truck last week, citing concerns for her children’s safety. Jessica Bond Ferguson described discovering the animal near her home on Sunday and taking action before authorities arrived.
The incident followed a crash involving a truck carrying monkeys in Heidelberg, Mississippi, which freed several primates believed to be infected with hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID-19. Officials confirmed that most of the escaped animals were euthanized or captured, but one remained at large until Ferguson’s intervention.
Ferguson stated she acted out of necessity, saying, “I did what any other mother would do to protect her children.” She reported shooting the monkey twice before it collapsed. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed the discovery of the animal on a homeowner’s property but provided no further details.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks took control of the primate after the incident. Local authorities urged residents to avoid approaching any wild monkeys and to contact emergency services immediately if spotted.
The truck accident involved 21 monkeys, with 15 remaining caged, six escaping, five captured, one still at large, and 20 euthanized. Tulane University, which supplied the animals, stated they were not infectious but emphasized collaboration with authorities to address the situation.
