Four more monkey sightings reported in Pinellas County

PALM HARBOR — As thousands of Tampa Bay residents started their holiday travels Wednesday, another creature also seemed intent on getting someplace.

Four more monkey sightings were reported in Palm Harbor on Wednesday, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

No one is sure where the monkey — thought to be a macaque — came from, but officials believe it is the same one that has been on the move for the past several days.

Residents across Tampa Bay have reported seeing the animal at least five times in the past couple of weeks. People have seen it climbing a tall tree in East Tampa. Others saw it on a back porch north of Town 'N Country. A monkey also was seen crossing a road in Palm Harbor.

The first sighting Wednesday was about 8:40 a.m. at Highlands Boulevard and U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor, officials said. The second was about 9:15 a.m. at Westlake Road and Tampa Road in the Rustic Oaks subdivision.

The monkey was apparently seen for a third time crossing U.S. 19 between Tampa and Curlew roads near an auto parts store.

Finally, it was seen crossing Alt. U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor near Foxboro Drive at about 3 p.m.

Authorities have said no one in the Tampa Bay area has reported a missing monkey.

They ask anyone who sees the monkey to call the Sheriff's Office at (727) 582-6200 or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's wildlife hotline toll-free at 1-888-404-3922.