A Mississippi mother says she was left with no choice but to protect her family when a lab monkey — one of several that escaped after a truck crash — wandered into her backyard.
Jessica Bond Ferguson, a 35-year-old chef and mother of five from Heidelberg, says her maternal instincts kicked in early Sunday morning when her teenage son spotted the Rhesus macaque near their home.
“I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” Ferguson told the Associated Press.
The monkey was reportedly one of 21 that had been en route to a laboratory when the transport truck overturned on Interstate 59 last week. Local authorities had warned residents that some of the animals were still unaccounted for and could be unpredictable.
Ferguson said she initially called police but decided to act when the animal continued to linger near her home. She fired twice, striking the monkey on the second shot.
“If it attacked somebody’s kid and I could have stopped it, that would’ve been a lot on me,” she added.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the monkey’s body was recovered and turned over to wildlife authorities. Officials said the animal was one of three still missing after the crash. Five others had been killed in earlier recovery efforts, while 13 safely reached their destination.
Tulane University later clarified that the monkeys were not part of its research programs but confirmed the animals had recently undergone health screenings and were disease-free. Wildlife officials, however, noted that Rhesus macaques — often used in scientific research — are known to be territorial and sometimes aggressive when frightened.
A Mother’s Split-Second Decision
Ferguson’s story has sparked both sympathy and debate across Mississippi. Many locals view her actions as a justified act of protection, while others have raised questions about the handling of animals used in laboratory transport.
The situation underscores the risks communities face when research animals escape, particularly in rural areas unprepared for such incidents.
“This wasn’t a wild monkey from the woods. It was a stressed lab animal in an unfamiliar environment,” said one wildlife expert, noting the potential danger posed to residents and the monkey alike.
For Ferguson, however, the moment boiled down to a mother’s instinct.
“I wasn’t thinking about anything except keeping my kids safe,” she said.
The investigation into the truck crash and the monkey escapes remains ongoing.
