00:00Mississippi Mother Explains Her Decision to Eliminate Escaped Monkey
00:04A Mississippi mother is being praised by her neighbors after shooting one of several rhesus monkeys that escaped during a highway crash last week.
00:12Jessica Bon Ferguson, 35, of Heidelberg, said she acted out of instinct to protect her five children after one of the monkeys appeared near her home on Sunday morning.
00:21The chaos began days earlier when a truck carrying 21 monkeys overturned on Interstate 59, releasing several animals into the area.
00:30Though authorities later confirmed the monkeys were not infected with any diseases, early reports claiming they might be contagious had left residents on edge.
00:39Ferguson said her 16-year-old son ran inside in panic after spotting the animal in their yard.
00:44She immediately called the police and stepped outside with her phone and a firearm.
00:48I fired a warning shot, but it didn't move, she told the Associated Press.
00:54I did what any other mother would do to protect her children.
00:57Officials confirmed that one of the missing monkeys was recovered after the incident.
01:02The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took custody of the animal's remains.
01:07The truck crash had already killed several monkeys and left others unaccounted for, sparking widespread concern in Jasper County.
01:13Initially, the driver told police the monkeys could carry infectious diseases like COVID-19 and hepatitis C, prompting a heavy response.
01:22Jolaine University later clarified that the animals were not theirs and posed no health risk.
01:27While the investigation into the crash continues, many locals say Ferguson's quick action brought peace of mind to a frightened community.
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