Escaped Research Monkey Fatally Shot by Mississippi Mother Amid Safety Fears
Early Morning Confrontation Outside Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Miss. â A quiet rural morning turned violent on Sunday when a Mississippi mother fatally shot one of several escaped research monkeys near her home, citing fears for her childrenâs safety. The incident unfolded just outside Heidelberg, a small community in Jasper County, about 100 miles southeast of Jackson.
Jessica Bond Ferguson, 35, a professional chef and mother of five, described the moment she spotted the animal near her backyard. Her oldest son, 16, noticed the monkey moving along a tree line around dawn and alerted her. Ferguson said she contacted local law enforcement before stepping outside with her phone and a firearm to observe the animalâs behavior.
âI did what any mother would do to protect her kids,â Ferguson recounted later that day. âIt was close enough to make me nervous. It wasnât running away, and I didnât know what diseases it could carry. I fired once, and when it didnât move, I fired again.â
Authorities later confirmed that the animal, a rhesus macaque, was one of a group that escaped following a truck crash on Interstate 59 earlier in the week. Officials have emphasized public caution since the incident, warning residents that the escaped primates could pose health and safety risks.
The Escape: A Chain-Reaction Accident on Interstate 59
The animalsâ escape traces back to an accident last Tuesday morning involving a transport truck carrying 21 rhesus macaques. The vehicle, contracted to deliver the animals from the Tulane University National Primate Research Center in New Orleans to a facility in Alabama, overturned after reportedly swerving to avoid debris in the road. State patrol officials said poor visibility and slick conditions likely played a role.
Thirteen monkeys were captured alive near the scene, while five others were euthanized after sustaining severe injuries during or after the crash. Three monkeys remained unaccounted for in the days that followed, prompting coordinated recovery efforts by wildlife officers and local deputies. Sundayâs shooting reduced the number of missing macaques to two.
Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson said his department has been patrolling rural areas since the crash, responding to several reported sightings. âWe understand people are scared,â Johnson said. âThese animals can be unpredictable, especially when theyâre stressed or hungry. If you see one, do not approach it. Call law enforcement immediately.â
The Monkeysâ Research Background
Rhesus macaques are among the most extensively studied primate species in biomedical research. Native to South and Southeast Asia, they share close genetic similarities with humans, making them valuable models for immunology, neuroscience, and infectious disease research. At the Tulane National Primate Research Center, macaques are used in tightly controlled studies focused on vaccine development and viral transmission.
The animals involved in last weekâs transport had reportedly completed initial health screenings and were certified disease-free, according to Tulane University officials. Despite early rumors that the monkeys were carrying infectious pathogens, veterinary tests found no evidence of viral or bacterial infections.
Still, public concerns grew rapidly in the days following the crash. Local social media groups in Jasper County flooded with posts cautioning parents to keep children indoors and pets confined. Some residents expressed frustration that they were not informed sooner about the animalsâ presence near their homes.
Rural Tensions and Community Response
In a region where residents are accustomed to encountering deer, coyotes, and wild boars, the idea of exotic monkeys wandering through neighborhoods was both shocking and unsettling. Fergusonâs property, a few miles north of Heidelberg, sits at the edge of dense pine forest and open pastureâterrain that provided an easy hiding place for the escaped creatures.
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots early Sunday morning but did not know what had happened until sheriffâs deputies arrived around sunrise. âWe thought it mightâve been someone hunting,â said Harold Graves, who lives two houses away. âI never thought anyone around here would have to shoot a monkey.â
The Jasper County Sheriffâs Office later confirmed the shooting in a public statement, describing Ferguson as cooperative and citing safety concerns as her motivation. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) recovered the animalâs remains for examination and confirmed it was indeed one of the escaped macaques.
Sheriff Johnson reiterated that authorities do not encourage residents to shoot the animals unless an immediate threat exists. âWeâd prefer people let us handle captures safely,â he said. âBut given the situation and the fear in the community, we understand why she acted as she did.â
Historical Comparisons to Previous Escapes
This is not the first time escaped research animals have prompted widespread concern in the southeastern United States. In February 2024, a separate transport truck overturned near Yemassee, South Carolina, releasing 43 rhesus macaques from a breeding facility. That incident sparked a month-long search, with most animals recaptured through baited traps and tranquilizers.
The Mississippi case, while smaller in scale, mirrors similar logistical challenges faced during animal transport across state lines. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 60,000 nonhuman primates are used in scientific research nationwide each year. Roughly one-third are shipped between accredited institutions for specialized studies, often over long distances on rural highways.
Because of their strength and intelligence, macaques are notoriously difficult to contain after an escape. They can climb buildings, open basic latches, and survive in temperate conditions for weeks. Wildlife experts note that while they generally avoid humans, their curiosity and territorial behavior can lead to unpredictable encounters.
Economic and Regulatory Implications
The incident may reignite debate about the regulation and transport of research animals, an issue that gained national attention after previous accidents involving lab primates and experimental rodents. Transport companies contracted for such deliveries are required to comply with strict federal standards on containment, temperature control, and inspection protocols. Even so, accidents like the Heidelberg crash expose vulnerabilities in the animal logistics pipeline.
Local economies can also feel ripple effects. Cleanup operations, emergency responses, and extended search efforts all carry costs that often fall to local governments rather than research institutions. In Jasper County, deputies and wildlife officers have logged more than 400 combined hours tracking and responding to the escaped animals since the crash, according to preliminary estimates from the sheriffâs office.
Animal rights groups have called for greater oversight of primate transport, arguing that crashes can endanger both public health and animal welfare. Scientists, however, counter that macaque research remains essential for developing vaccines and understanding infectious disease dynamics.
The Tulane National Primate Research Center stated that it is reviewing transport protocols with federal partners and third-party carriers to prevent similar incidents. âSafety is paramountâfor our staff, the animals, and the broader community,â the center said in a press release Saturday. âWe are working closely with state authorities to ensure accountability and transparency.â
Ongoing Search and Public Safety Precautions
Two monkeys remain missing as of Monday morning. The MDWFP has deployed infrared equipment and motion-triggered cameras in wooded areas around Heidelberg and Bay Springs. Officers are leaving fresh fruit and water at tracking sites to lure the remaining animals into safe capture zones. Officials believe the macaques are likely hiding near creeks or food sources and may travel at night to avoid human contact.
Residents have been urged to keep garbage cans sealed and to report any unusual animal sounds or sightings. Health authorities have also reminded the public to avoid direct contact with any escaped monkeys, dead or alive, as a precaution.
Ferguson, meanwhile, says her children remain shaken but relieved. âYou donât expect something like this to happen in Mississippi,â she said. âWe lock our doors at night, but we never thought weâd have to worry about monkeys.â
As wildlife officers continue their search, the Heidelberg incident stands as a rare and unsettling reminder of how quickly scientific logistics can become a matter of public safety. For now, rural communities across southeastern Mississippi remain on alert, watching the tree lines and pasture edges for any sign of movementâand waiting for normal life to resume.