WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – A day after a rogue monkey was spotted and photographed by a Winter Springs, a neighbor is trying to lure the animal to his house with bananas, a move frowned upon by wildlife officials.
The brown and white monkey, believed to be a Rhesus macaque, was first seen in Oviedo last week before being photographed by a Local 6 viewer who lives on Baltic Lane in Winter Springs.
[PHOTOS: Monkey spotted in Winter Springs | VIDEO: Neighbors react | AUDIO: 911 calls]
His neighbor placed bananas on his fence Monday and said they were gone within hours. He placed another banana on the fence on Tuesday and hopes to take pictures of the monkey, estimated to be about 4-feet long.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Joy Hill urged residents not to feed the animal.
"We are asking people to please not feed or try in any way to lure the monkey out. It could prove dangerous as the monkey is likely wild and unpredictable. In addition, it requires a permit for someone to possess a Rhesus macaque," said Hill, who added that monkeys can carry diseases, one of which is fatal to humans.
The neighbor said he would never approach the monkey.
A mother who lives nearby said her neighbor's behavior is putting others, including children, at risk.
The FWC said it believes the monkey could have come from a colony of monkeys living in the Silver Springs area, where they were living freely as part of an attraction years ago.
Police said they haven't received any reports of missing pets.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.