Monkey alert for Hudson Beach area

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Florida state wildlife officials are asking the public to be on the lookout for a monkey in Pasco County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says they have received reports of a rhesus macaque in the area of Hudson Beach.  Rhesus macaques are not native to Florida and officials aren't sure how it got there.  But they don’t want it there much longer.

An FWC release says the agency is "asking members of the public who see the animal to call in with information so that we can protect public safety and continue to work toward a positive outcome."

Hudson Beach residents should  "secure their trash" to avoid attracting the monkey, the agency says, and they should definitely not approach it or feed it.

Instead, they say, you can report sightings immediately to the Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-3922.  Or you can call the Exotic Species Hotline, 888-Ive-Got1 during business hours.

PHOTOS: Click on the photo for more pics of the monkey