Pranks Not Recommended

A pet spider monkey created quite a stir after escaping its owner during a fall festival in a small town in South Carolina. Fortunately, local officials managed to bring the situation under control with some clever thinking involving coffee.

The spider monkey, named Ava, made her escape on Saturday during Eutawville’s annual Crappie Classic and Fall Fest. This prompted a frantic search involving the mayor and other town leaders. Reports indicate that the officials were quite invested in finding her.

“There’s always something unique about Eutawville’s festival, and this year is no exception!” the town announced.

Casey Hill, the town clerk, along with Mayor Brandon Weatherford and his wife Laura, worked together to locate Ava. They eventually found her perched on a car close to a barbershop, clearly distressed.

“She was screaming,” Hill recounted, noting Ava’s fear.

After tracking Ava to the First National Bank of South Carolina, Hill had to think on his feet. He set a cup of hot coffee on the ground, removing the lid to draw Ava’s attention with its aroma.

As the curious monkey drew near to the tempting scent, Hill cleverly put his foot on the long leash Ava was wearing, keeping her in place.

Officials later confirmed that Ava’s owner had been located, and the two were happily reunited.

Spider monkeys earned their name due to their tendency to hang from trees using their long tails. They are among the 25 most endangered primate species globally, according to wildlife conservation guidelines.

Interestingly, not every species of monkey is protected by the Endangered Species Act. In South Carolina, it’s currently legal to own monkeys without a permit, which raises some questions about responsible pet ownership.