University of Florida biologists say a population of monkeys native to Asia appears to be spreading throughout central Florida.
For more than 75 years, rhesus macaques have inhabited Silver Springs State Park in Ocala.
That population has grown to roughly 200 monkeys in the park, and University of Florida biologists say new sightings of the monkeys have been reported in other parts of the state including in Lake County.
University biologist Steve Johnson told The Orlando Sentinel that as the population grows it will spread outside of the park.
"It would not be surprising as the population grows to see males disperse outside of the park," Johnson said to the Sentinel.
In November, a tan-colored monkey was spotted on the roof of a Lady Lake school. Parents took pictures of the monkey at dismissal. The monkey jumped off the roof, across the parking lot and into some woods.
Weeks later, a homeowner reported seeing a monkey in her backyard. It sat upright in a tree eating berries.
