Residents of Heidelberg, Mississippi, have spent the past week on edge after an unlikely and unsettling event — a truck carrying rhesus monkeys overturned on Interstate 59, scattering more than twenty animals across nearby woods and neighborhoods. For most locals, the news was strange enough to seem unreal. But for one mother, it turned from headline to nightmare in her own backyard.
Early Sunday morning, 35-year-old Jessica Bond Ferguson was making breakfast for her five children when her sixteen-year-old son burst through the front door, pale and shaking. “He said something was moving by the fence,” Ferguson recalled. “At first I thought maybe a raccoon or a stray dog. Then I looked out the window — and it wasn’t a dog.”
There, about sixty feet away, stood a rhesus monkey — small but muscular, its eyes fixed on the house. “It was just standing there, like it didn’t know what to do,” Ferguson said. “And I knew my kids were inside, watching.”
She didn’t hesitate. Grabbing her phone and her legally registered firearm, she stepped outside. “I’m not the kind of person to overreact,” she said. “But when you’ve got five kids in the house and something wild like that shows up, you don’t take chances.”
With police and animal control still minutes away, Ferguson fired a warning shot into the ground. The monkey didn’t move. “It just stood there at first,” she said. “When I fired again, it backed up, then dropped down and ran.”
Authorities later confirmed that one of the escaped monkeys was located near the Ferguson home that same morning. It was tranquilized and captured safely by officers from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. “We don’t encourage residents to engage with wild animals,” Sheriff Randy Johnson said. “But in this case, the mother did what she thought necessary to protect her family, and we understand that instinct.”
The monkeys had escaped three days earlier when a transport truck carrying twenty-one rhesus macaques veered off the highway and overturned north of Heidelberg. The vehicle was en route from Tulane University’s National Primate Research Center in New Orleans to a facility in Georgia. Wooden crates marked LIVE ANIMALS were found shattered along the roadside, some still containing frightened animals, others empty.
Officials initially reported that thirteen monkeys were quickly recovered, while five died in the crash. That left three unaccounted for — until Sunday’s incident at the Ferguson residence.
Tulane University issued a statement confirming that the animals were part of a biomedical transport but were not carrying infectious diseases. “All animals involved had been medically screened and cleared for transport,” the university said. “We are working closely with state and local authorities to ensure all remaining monkeys are accounted for.”
Rhesus macaques are intelligent and social creatures, but according to wildlife experts, they can become dangerously aggressive when under stress or isolated from their group. Dr. Amanda Keene, a zoologist at Mississippi State University, explained that the animals’ behavior can shift dramatically after traumatic events. “They’re not naturally violent toward humans,” she said. “But confusion, fear, or separation anxiety can make them unpredictable. They will defend themselves if they feel cornered.”
Ferguson, however, didn’t have time to weigh those nuances. “I saw something that didn’t belong in my yard and could hurt my children,” she said. “That’s all I needed to know.”
Her story quickly spread across local social media groups, with residents offering praise, criticism, and plenty of disbelief. Some called her a hero. Others questioned her use of a firearm instead of waiting for animal control. Ferguson brushed off the debate. “Everybody’s got an opinion,” she said. “But when it’s your yard, your kids, and a monkey staring you down, you make the call you can live with.”
In the days since the crash, residents around Heidelberg have been swapping sightings and photos of the escaped animals — grainy images of shapes in trees or shadows near barns. Law enforcement set up patrols and warned residents not to approach or attempt to capture the animals. “They might look small,” Sheriff Johnson said, “but they’re strong, fast, and not meant to be handled by the public.”
Local parents have kept children indoors, and several schools temporarily suspended outdoor recess until authorities confirmed the area was clear. “It’s scary,” Ferguson said. “You don’t think about something like this happening in a place like ours. We’ve had snakes, wild hogs — but monkeys? Never.”
The Mississippi Highway Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have lost control after swerving to avoid debris on the road. No human injuries were reported, though officials said the animals’ transport crates were not designed for impact at highway speed.
Wildlife agencies are now working with Tulane and federal officials to review transportation protocols for research animals. “These aren’t pets,” Dr. Keene said. “They’re part of regulated research programs, and when accidents happen, it raises important questions about containment and community safety.”
Footage from the crash site showed responders combing through tall grass as small figures darted between trees. Some crates remained intact, while others splintered open. One officer described hearing the animals “screaming and chattering” as they scattered into the woods. “It was chaotic,” he said. “You don’t expect to be chasing monkeys in Mississippi.”
By Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed that all twenty-one animals had been accounted for — either captured, recovered, or deceased. Tulane representatives assured residents that no biohazard risk remained, though they acknowledged the emotional impact on the community. “We recognize the fear this caused,” a spokesperson said. “We’re grateful to local residents for their cooperation and to those who acted responsibly during this unusual situation.”
Still, the story has left a lasting impression on Heidelberg — a small town where the biggest excitement usually comes from high school football games or county fairs. “You’ll be hearing monkey jokes around here for the next ten years,” one local shop owner laughed. “But everyone was nervous. This could have gone bad fast.”
As for Ferguson, she says her kids are still a little shaken. Her youngest now refuses to play outside alone. “He keeps asking if more monkeys are coming,” she said. “I told him no — but I still double-check the window every night.”
Despite the unease, Ferguson insists she doesn’t regret how she handled the situation. “I didn’t go looking for trouble,” she said. “It showed up in my yard. Any parent would’ve done the same.”
Wildlife officials are using the incident as a case study for improving emergency responses to escaped research animals. “We were lucky this time,” Sheriff Johnson said. “Nobody was hurt, and the animals were recovered safely. But it’s a wake-up call. Accidents happen, and we need to make sure communities know how to respond.”
In the aftermath, online reactions have split between admiration and caution. Some praised Ferguson’s instinctive bravery; others emphasized the need to let trained professionals handle wild animal encounters. But one thing everyone seems to agree on: it’s a story no one in Heidelberg will forget anytime soon.
“It’s something you only see in movies,” Ferguson said. “Except this time, it was real life — and it happened right here in our backyard.”
The event has sparked new discussions about wildlife transport safety, rural emergency preparedness, and the unpredictable ways danger can find its way into ordinary lives. And for one Mississippi mom, it’s a story she’ll tell for the rest of hers — the morning she stood between her children and a frightened monkey, and didn’t think twice.
