ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Department of Health has called off its search for an unknown number of monkeys said to be roaming around the city.
On Monday, Jan. 12, the city shifted its efforts from investigation to enforcement of its wild animal ordinance, according to Justin Hauser, the health department’s environmental health bureau chief.
According to the city’s code of ordinances (10.24.010), “No person, except as provided in this chapter shall own, keep, or harbor within the City of St. Louis, any of the following animals: … R. All non-human primates.”
Several residents first reported sightings on Thursday, Jan. 8. A St. Louis police officer saw one of the monkeys that same day. The health department dispatched an Animal Care and Control officer to the area but found no trace of the animals.
The following day, additional sightings prompted the city to put more officers in the field. Again, the monkeys could not be located.
It’s still no clear where the animals came from, Hauser said. The city has not dispatched any Animal Care and Control officers to any private residences to investigate reports of individuals harboring or keeping such primates.
Hauser said the city is aware of sightings and videos shared on social media. Those posts cannot be verified and have not been used in the city’s searches. Many of those posts, several of which use AI-generated images or videos, have sowed confusion and doubt among residents.
Anyone with firsthand information or knowledge of sightings is asked to contact the city’s Citizens Service Bureau at 314-622-4800 (or 314-231-1212 after hours or on weekends) so the reports can be logged and the appropriate agency can be dispatched to the area. If you or someone you know has captured one of the monkeys, contact the city as soon as possible so the animal can be humanely secured and transported.