Monkey Might Well Have Herpes

TALLAHASSEE - The elusive rhesus macaque monkey darting around the Tampa Bay area and cheered on by 60,000 Facebook fans is generating a lot of banter.  However, wildlife officials caution that this monkey is highly stressed and potentially very dangerous, and is itself in danger.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), rhesus macaques are bad-tempered, powerful monkeys that, if cornered, can injure or even kill an adult human.  Of particular concern to wildlife officials is that some area residents are not taking these warnings seriously and are tempting fate by trying to feed or catch this animal with their hands – a very risky and foolish undertaking, according to the FWC.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that roughly 80 percent of rhesus macaques carry the simian herpes-B virus.  If the animal bites, scratches or even spits on you (one of many bad habits this species exhibits), you may become infected.  If infected with this virus, there’s an 80-percent chance you will die from an untreated wound.  Even a treated wound can be fatal.

“Although this marauding monkey makes for humorous reading and anecdotes around the water cooler, people should not lose sight of what’s best for the animal and for public safety,” said Dr. David Murphy, staff veterinarian at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.

According to the FWC, feeding wildlife is the primary factor causing wildlife to destroy property and to attack pets and humans.  Monkeys are no exception.

“Encouraging this animal to approach or remain close to humans for any reason can lead to a defensive attack if the animal feels trapped or otherwise threatened by miscued human body language,” said Capt. John West, who deals with captive wildlife issues for the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement.

Also in doubt is the monkey’s ability to continue to live on its own in a hostile, urban environment.  Rhesus macaques have a highly evolved society where the health and well-being of each individual is largely dependent on the cooperation of other troop members, especially for defense purposes.  A lone rhesus macaque stands little chance for long-term survival outside its troop.  Predation on a lone macaque by urban coyotes, bobcats or neighborhood dogs is a distinct possibility.  Other factors such as high-volume traffic, high-voltage power lines and other urban hazards add to the mix of threats to the creature.

Monkeys in any situation are difficult to capture, even for the most experienced experts, and the challenge is magnified in a highly stressful urban setting.  So far, this animal has managed to avoid capture through sheer athleticism, sharp eyesight, an apparently intuitive understanding of the dangers of crossing the street and a lot of luck.  Such luck, however, is not likely to continue indefinitely.

“We understand the need for comic relief, as well as the compassion people feel for this engaging creature.  Those things, however, are not of primary concern to our agency.  Rather, it’s how people act upon those feelings that can cause serious consequences to those in direct contact with the monkey,” said Gary Morse, spokesman for the FWC.  “This animal’s only real chance for survival is to be caught and then cared for by an accredited facility, where it can interact with other members of its own kind.”

The FWC urges those who see this monkey not to feed, try to capture or interact with it in any way. If you spot this animal, return to the safety of a building or your vehicle and immediately call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922, and leave the monkey business to the FWC.

TALLAHASSEE- Lu, resident hippopotamus at Homosassa Springs, last week celebrated his 50th birthday with park staff, visitors and Homosassa Elementary School students who presented the hippo with his own birthday cake.

A fixture at Homosassa Springs since 1964, Lu’s claim to fame is his role as a former movie and television star with the Ivan Tors Animal Actors troupe, which wintered at the park while in private ownership. He is credited in the 1960s movies Daktari and Cowboy in Africa, and in television specials such as Jack Linkletter Show and Herb Alpert Special.

“This year marks a special milestone for both Homosassa Springs and the state park system as a whole,” said Homosassa Springs Manager Art Yerian in a press release. “Both a 50th birthday and the 75th anniversary of Florida State Parks makes this a great time for residents and guests to experience the fascinating wildlife and affordable fun at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.”

Lu, an African Hippopotamus, was born at the San Diego Zoo on January 26, 1960.  He weighed 90 pounds at birth and now weighs more than 6,000 pounds.  As a vegetarian, Lu consumes 15 pounds of alfalfa hay, four scoops of herbivore diet and a five gallon bucket of vegetables and fruit every day.

Although Lu’s fame has remained steady for more than four decades, his state park habitat was once jeopardized.  When the Florida Park Service purchased the attraction in 1989, the state planned to shift the emphasis of the park to native Florida wildlife and find homes for all the exotic species, including Lu.  Public support, however, led Governor Lawton Chiles to grant Lu an exemption in 1991.  Special Florida citizenship has allowed Lu to stay at the park, and his fans to continue to display their appreciation annually at his birthday celebration.

Located 20 miles north of Florida’s newest state park Weeki Wachee Springs, Homosassa Springs is one of the region’s most popular attractions. An underwater manatee observatory provides a unique view of Florida’s famed sea cows. In addition, a 1,600-foot Wildlife Walk showcases the natural habitats of bobcats, cougars, otters, bears and hundreds of birds. The state park also offers boat tours, trails, picnicking and an interactive Children’s Education Center and Museum. To learn more about Homosassa Springs and Lu the hippo, visit http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/default.cfm.

Charles Jason Darnell (DOB 03-26-77) told officers he placed his 8-foot, 5-inch albino Burmese python in a bag and put it in an aquarium Tuesday night. When Darnell woke in the morning, he said he discovered the snake had escaped from both the bag and the aquarium. He told investigators that he discovered the python on top of Shaiunna Hare, age 2, and then he stabbed the snake before calling 911, according to Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Bobby Caruthers.

Darnell is the boyfriend of the child’s mother, Jaren Ashley Hare (DOB 09-08-85). Two older children were also in the residence at the time of death. They were unharmed.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with help from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

“This is a very sad situation,” said Sheriff Bill Farmer. “We’ve never had anything like this in Sumter County or even Florida. To keep a large, unsecured snake in the house is just asking for trouble.”

Burmese pythons are classified as Reptiles of Concern, and their owners must secure permits from the FWC’s Captive Wildlife Section to keep them as pets. Approximately 450 licensees currently are permitted to possess Reptiles of Concern and/or venomous reptiles in Florida. The license costs $100 per year and mandates specific caging specifications and other requirements. Permits are issued to individuals at specific locations. No permit had been issued to Darnell or the residence in Sumter County. It is a second-degree misdemeanor to possess a Reptile of Concern without a permit.

Burmese pythons pose little risk to humans, and there have been no other documented attacks in Florida. Documented human attacks by pythons in the United States have involved the snake’s owner or immediate family.

The snake was alive when officers removed it from the house on Wednesday afternoon. Investigators still are gathering information in the case.

Information gleaned from an early morning traffic stop in Palm Beach on Friday resulted in a multi-agency effort and race against the clock to save more than 100 sea turtle eggs that could sell for $35 each.

A police officer, from the Town of Palm Beach, conducting surveillance stopped Bruce W. Bivins, DOB 07/22/56, in the early morning hours Friday. The officer received information from a traffic stop that a man was possibly taking sea turtle eggs from the beach. Soon after, the officer noticed Bivins walking over the Southern Boulevard Causeway bridge with a bag. Bivins took off when the officer tried to stop him.

The officer watched as Bivins threw the bag into the water. Once a back-up officer arrived a short time later, Bivins was placed in handcuffs, and the officers pulled the bag out of the water. Officers found 119 sea turtle eggs inside in the bag. Bivins was taken into custody, and Palm Beach police called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The FWC charged Bivins, who is homeless, with possession of sea turtle eggs and disturbing a sea turtle nest, both felonies. He was booked into the Palm Beach County jail.

Just before sunrise, the eggs were safely reburied on Palm Beach. FWC biologists will monitor the site. It is hoped at least some of the eggs will hatch.

This is not the first time Bivins has been arrested for poaching. In 1997, he was charged with possessing sea turtle eggs. Sea turtle eggs can be sold on the black market for as much as $35 a dozen. They are presumed by some people to have aphrodisiac properties; in years past, sea turtle eggs also were used in cooking and baking in some areas of Florida.

“We are pleased to bring this repeat wildlife resource offender to justice,” said FWC Capt. Jeff Ardelean. “This arrest happened because of the cooperation among local, state and federal agencies.”

Sea turtle nesting season has begun on Florida’s coast. Sea turtles are protected by state and federal laws. It is against the law to take, possess, disturb, mutilate, destroy, sell, transfer, molest or harass marine turtles, nests or eggs. For more information on sea turtles, see research.myfwc.com.

Monday morning, the handlers for Jungle Adventures, the permitted owner of the cat, took Sierra to her veterinarian for an examination and assistance with delivery. (Editor’s Note: the image at right is a generic cougar shot from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

The captive-born, -bred and -raised cougar escaped from her handlers Saturday afternoon while they were trying to put her in a transport cage so they could take her to a veterinarian. She slipped out of the two leashes handlers were leading her with and dashed off into some thick woods. Despite search efforts by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sierra remained missing until reappearing on her own Sunday.

“The people handling Sierra set out bait in a cage to try to catch her Saturday night or early Sunday morning, but the cougar was able to take the bait without being caught,” said FWC Lt. Rick Brown. “However, as they were re-baiting the trap early Sunday evening, Sierra stepped out of the woods and looked at them as if to say, ‘Where have you been?’”

They called out to her, and she came right over without further ado. Sierra has no claws on her front paws and was wearing a collar when she took off.

The cougar actually belongs to Jungle Adventures in Christmas but had spent Friday night at the Poinciana home of Lynne Hawkesworth in preparation for her trip to the vet on Saturday. Hawkesworth, 54, lives at 4983 Brook Rd., Kissimmee.

Unfortunately, Hawkesworth does not have a permit to possess a cougar, but does have experience working with them.

Sierra had had an unsuccessful pregnancy in the past, in which she lost her kittens, and the owners were hoping to avoid similar problems by having the vet perform a C-section on the cat.

When she returned Sunday, the cougar was in labor, according to Brown. Hawkesworth is allowed to keep Sierra until she gives birth, and then has to move her and her kitten or kittens back to Jungle Adventures immediately.

“She has a cage that is structurally suitable to keep the cat in for this temporary purpose, but she does not have proper facilities to maintain the cougar at her house,” Brown said.

Brown cited Hawkesworth for possessing the cougar without a permit and gave her a warning for the escape. Both are second-degree misdemeanors.

The 24-foot Century boat, which was borrowed, ran out of gas and was found beached Sunday morning at Fort Morgan, Ala.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Jeff Gager said Michael Bursten of Roswell, Ga., was cobia fishing by himself Friday afternoon in rough seas off the western end of Panama City Beach in the Laguna Beach area when he attempted to climb down from the “ling tower.” A wave hit the boat, pitching Bursten overboard, the FWC said in a press release.

The trouble was he had left the boat in gear, albeit running slowly, but all he could do was watch the vessel slowly chug off to the west and out of sight.

Bursten fell overboard roughly 300 yards offshore. Several beachgoers heard him holler for help and swam out to him.

Bursten, who was not wearing a life jacket, was admitted to the hospital for water inhalation and remains hospitalized.

Gager said the U.S. Coast Guard and Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies also responded to the accident, and everyone thought the vessel would be found later, somewhere down the beach or perhaps in Walton County.

Saturday passed, and there was still no word about the vessel. Chris Palomba, the boat’s owner who lives in Lawrenceville, Ga., hired a private pilot to begin an aerial search, but then word came on Sunday the vessel was found beached in Alabama.

The distance between Panama City Beach and Fort Morgan is about 130 miles.

“Most boats, if you don’t hold the wheel steady, will turn to the right or left. There were 15-20 knot winds Friday and 6-foot seas and it’s just amazing the vessel ended up where it did,” Gager said.

This announcement comes as a result of an agreement with Sandestin and Santa Rosa Beach-based YOLO Board LLC., a leading hybrid-style stand-up paddle board company, to offer rentals, Paddle Fit classes and group events at the resort.

Paddle boarding, or ‘YOLOing’ as many people like to call it, offers a completely different way to experience the water, for a leisure paddle or enjoyable workout. Using a canoe-like paddle and standing atop a larger version of a traditional longboard surfboard, paddlers push themselves through the water with side to side strokes. YOLO Board’s newest board, the YOLO Yak – the first-of-its-kind hybrid stand-up paddleboard/kayak – will offer paddlers even more stability to cruise. Some people even compare the experience to “yoga on water.”

At Sandestin, YOLO Boards will be available for rent by the hour, half day or day at very affordable prices staring at $25. In addition, popular Paddle Fit classes will be offered beginning this summer. For additional information, contact 850/622-5760.

According to Jeff Archer and Tom Losee, co-founders of YOLO Board, in a press releases, “We’re confident that thousands of people will learn to love this new sport by having it available at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.”

YOLO Board will hold the 2009 YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series this summer, with the third stop of the five part series being held at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on Friday, June 19.

For more information about Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina call 850/267-6168. For YOLO Board background, times and availability contact 850/622-5760.

Johnathon Knecht, 10, and Frank Womack, 71, both sustained scratches and bites from their encounters. Womack killed the bobcat in self defense.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, Knecht was hiking in the Withlacoochee State Forest with his Boy Scout group when the bobcat jumped onto his back, scratching and biting. The other Boy Scouts came to Knecht’s assistance, and the animal ran back into the woods. Knecht was taken to Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness where he was treated and released.

The bobcat then moved on to Womack’s property. The animal bit Womack on the leg, and the man was able to put the cat down. Womack was treated and released at a local hospital. The bobcat was removed by county animal control officials who will test the bobcat for rabies.

Rabies always is present in wildlife populations and any warm-blooded animal can catch the disease if exposed to it.

Wild animal attacks are infrequent. However, most of the time when they do occur, the animal is sick.

Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute need help from the public in identifying horseshoe crabs spawning on beaches throughout the state.

The best time to find horseshoe crabs spawning is around high tide, right before or just after a full or new moon. The full moon on March 12 and similar conditions on March 13 will create good conditions for viewing the crabs. The next full moon will occur on April 10.

Observant beach-goers can report the time, date and location of horseshoe-crab sightings through one of several convenient options. Go to http://research.MyFWC.com/horseshoe_crab and fill out an online survey; e-mail findings to horseshoe@MyFWC.com; or call the FWC at 866-252-9326.

Biologists also want to know the number of horseshoe crabs seen by observers and whether the horseshoe crabs are mating. They also want to know the date, time, location and habitat conditions. If possible, specify roughly how many are coupled and how many are juveniles (4 inches wide or smaller).

Horseshoe crabs benefit humans in several ways. For instance, research on the compound eyes of horseshoe crabs led to better understanding of the human vision system, and horseshoe crab blood is useful in the biomedical industry. In addition, manufacturers use the material of a horseshoe crab’s shell (chitin) to make contact lenses, skin creams and hair sprays.