Heidelberg, MS — A Mississippi woman says she was acting out of fear for her children’s safety when she shot and killed one of the monkeys that escaped from an overturned truck last week. The animals had been on the loose after a transport vehicle carrying caged rhesus monkeys crashed along Interstate 59 north of Heidelberg.
Mother Says She Acted to Protect Her Children
Jessica Bond Ferguson, a mother of five children between the ages of 4 and 16, said she opened fire on the animal after spotting it near her home on Sunday.
“I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” Ferguson told The Associated Press. “I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that’s when he fell.”
Ferguson explained that her eldest son first noticed the animal in the yard, prompting her to grab her firearm and step outside. She said she had been warned that the monkeys might carry dangerous diseases, which heightened her concern for her family’s safety.
Local Authorities Confirm the Incident
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement that a homeowner had reported finding a monkey on their property Sunday morning. Deputies arrived shortly after and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took possession of the animal.
According to The Independent, the sheriff’s office did not release further details about the shooting but confirmed it was related to the truck crash involving caged rhesus monkeys.
“We were informed a homeowner encountered one of the escaped monkeys on their property,” the department said in a brief social media update.
Truck Crash Released Research Monkeys
Authorities said the incident followed a truck accident last Tuesday when a vehicle transporting rhesus monkeys overturned on Interstate 59. Officials confirmed that at least three monkeys escaped after the crash.
The primates had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, which supplies animals for scientific research. However, Tulane University clarified that the monkeys were not owned or transported by the university itself.
“The primates aren’t infectious,” the university said in a statement. “We’re actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed.”
Tulane also told The Independent that the escaped monkeys had not been exposed to any infectious agents, refuting early social media claims that they carried hepatitis C, herpes, or COVID-19.
Community Concerns and Safety Measures
Despite official assurances, some residents in Jasper County said they remained uneasy following the escape, fearing the animals could spread disease or cause injury. Wildlife officials advised locals to avoid contact with wild or escaped animals and to report any sightings immediately.
Ferguson said she regretted having to kill the animal but felt she had no choice given the uncertainty and warnings she received.
“It was standing there looking at me, and I just couldn’t take any risks with my kids outside,” she said.
Ongoing Investigation
State and federal wildlife authorities are continuing to investigate the truck crash and the conditions under which the monkeys were being transported. Officials are also reviewing protocols for transporting research animals across state lines.
All remaining escaped monkeys have since been accounted for, according to local officials.
What are your thoughts on this unusual case and the mother’s decision to protect her family? Share your views in the comments below.
