Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Silver Springs State Park, near Ocala in Marion County, is known for its clear spring and glass-bottom boat tours. It is also home to a population of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)—an Asian species introduced to the area by people in the 1930s.
The monkeys are fascinating to watch, but they are not native Florida wildlife, tame pets, or animals visitors should approach. They can bite and scratch, may carry macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 (B virus), and have the potential to affect native wildlife.
Where is the macaque colony?
The colony is associated with Silver Springs State Park at 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Silver Springs, Florida 34488, in Marion County near Ocala. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year. The listed vehicle entrance fee is $8.
Macaques may also occur along parts of the Ocklawaha River outside the park. Seeing one near the park does not mean it belongs to a controlled or managed exhibit. These are free-ranging, nonnative wild animals.
#1 Best Overall
How rhesus macaques got to Silver Springs
Rhesus macaques are native to South and Southeast Asia, not Florida. They were intentionally introduced to the Silver Springs area in the mid-1930s to make the tourist attraction more appealing.
The glass-bottom boat operation’s manager, known as Colonel Tooey, reportedly released about six macaques on an island in the Silver River. The animals were strong swimmers and reached the surrounding forest. Around 1948, Tooey reportedly purchased and released another six on the river’s north shore.
Tour operators also used food to draw the monkeys toward the shoreline for visitors. That practice likely made the animals more comfortable around people. Habituation can create problems when wild animals begin associating humans with food or stop treating people as a threat.
The colony is sometimes connected online with the 1939 film Tarzan Finds a Son. The monkeys were already present before filming, however, and no rhesus macaques appeared in that movie.
How many monkeys live there?
There is no verified, current public census establishing the colony’s exact size in 2026. The most recent estimate identified in the University of Florida’s reviewed history publication was approximately 190 macaques inside Silver Springs State Park in fall 2015. The number living along the Ocklawaha River outside the park was unknown at that time.
Rank #2
| Year or period | Reported information |
|---|---|
| 1968 | A study estimated 78 monkeys in two groups, as reported in the University of Florida’s reviewed history publication. |
| 1980s | The population along the Silver River was estimated at nearly 400, according to the University of Florida’s reviewed history publication. |
| Fall 2015 | Approximately 190 macaques were estimated inside the state park, according to the University of Florida’s reviewed history publication. |
| 2026 | No verified current public census was located for this article. |
That uncertainty is important. Numbers such as 300, 400, 500, or 600 are often repeated online, but they should not be presented as the park’s current official population without a recent census to support them.
Why the monkeys are considered invasive
Florida wildlife authorities and University of Florida researchers classify the macaques as nonnative animals with possible consequences for native wildlife, ecosystems, agriculture, and human safety.
Researchers have documented the monkeys eating nearly 50 plant species in the park. They also ate quail eggs placed in artificial nests, suggesting a possible risk to nesting birds. That observation does not prove that macaques have caused a particular decline in native bird populations. The University of Florida says the full extent of their current predation and competition effects remains unknown.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteInvasive does not mean every individual animal is aggressive or that its effects have been fully measured. It means a species is living outside its native range and may create ecological or public-safety problems. In this case, the introduction was human-caused, and the population has persisted for decades.
Past efforts to control the population
Florida has permitted trapping and removal efforts at different times. According to the University of Florida’s reviewed history publication, 217 macaques were captured and sold for biomedical research in 1984; more animals were removed in 1985 and 1986.
Rank #3
The University of Florida’s reviewed history publication reports that from 1998 through 2012, a permitted private trapper captured approximately 830 macaques between Silver Springs and adjoining Ocklawaha River lands, including about 700 from the state park. That practice was controversial and has since stopped. Another approach involved sterilizing 20 female macaques between 1986 and 1990 to slow population growth, according to the same publication.
Visitors should not interpret the end of those efforts as permission to trap, relocate, or handle a monkey. Wildlife management is handled by the relevant state agencies and authorized professionals.
Can the monkeys spread herpes B?
Some Silver Springs macaques have tested positive for macacine alphaherpesvirus 1, commonly called B virus or herpes B. The virus is usually asymptomatic in macaques, which can shed it intermittently.
Transmission requires contact with infected bodily fluids. A bite or scratch is the clearest concern, but exposure to mucous membranes or another open wound can also be dangerous. Human B virus infections are rare, but they can be severe or fatal.
The risk is sometimes overstated online. The University of Florida reports that there has been no confirmed human herpes B infection from a wild macaque, despite reported macaque bites and scratches in Florida. Documented human cases have occurred primarily in laboratory or captive-animal settings. That record is reassuring, but it is not a reason to touch or feed a wild macaque.
Rank #4
What to do if a macaque bites or scratches you
- Move away from the animal without chasing or cornering it.
- Clean the injury immediately. CDC guidance calls for scrubbing with soap, detergent, or iodine for 15 minutes.
- Rinse with running water for another 15 to 20 minutes.
- Seek prompt medical evaluation and explain that the exposure involved a macaque.
Do not wait to see whether the wound becomes red or painful. Tell medical staff about any bite, scratch, splash, or contact between macaque bodily fluid and your eyes, mouth, or an open wound.
Recommended Free Tools
How visitors should behave around the monkeys
- Keep a substantial distance and give the animal a clear escape route.
- Never touch, chase, corner, or pose closely with a macaque.
- Do not feed the monkeys. Feeding wild nonhuman primates is prohibited under Florida Administrative Code Rule 68A-4.001.
- Keep food, bags, and trash secured.
- Do not try to retrieve an item from a monkey.
- Watch children closely and do not allow them to approach wildlife for photographs.
Feeding is not harmless entertainment. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns that feeding wild animals can reduce their fear of people and contribute to aggressive encounters.
In September 2025, the Silver River Museum temporarily postponed weekday student field trips because of increased monkey activity. The museum described the decision as precautionary and said it was not based on official guidance from wildlife or health authorities. That episode illustrates why local conditions can change even when no agency has issued a broad public warning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to report a macaque sighting
For a credible report of a nonnative animal, FWC asks for:
- A clear, identifiable photograph.
- The location—GPS coordinates are best, but a street address or detailed description can work.
- The date of the sighting.
Reports can be submitted through the IveGot1 app or website. The first online report requires a free account. FWC also lists the Invasive Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (888-483-4681).
Best Value
- Used Book in Good Condition
For a wildlife incident or suspected violation, contact FWC’s Wildlife Alert line at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922). Do not attempt to capture, harass, or relocate the animal yourself.
Are rhesus macaques suitable pets?
No. A macaque is not a suitable household pet, even when it appears young, calm, or accustomed to people. They are intelligent, powerful social primates with complex needs, strong bites, and unpredictable behavior as they mature. Human habituation can make them more—not less—dangerous because an animal that expects food may approach, grab, or defend resources.
The Silver Springs colony is a cautionary example of how releasing nonnative wildlife for entertainment can create a long-term management and safety problem. Anyone interested in keeping an exotic animal should first check Florida and local regulations, welfare requirements, veterinary access, and the risks to people and native wildlife. A wild macaque encountered at a park should remain wild and be left alone.
FAQ
Are the monkeys at Silver Springs State Park native to Florida?
No. They are rhesus macaques, a species native to South and Southeast Asia. People introduced them to the Silver Springs area in the mid-1930s.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How many macaques are currently in Silver Springs State Park?
There is no verified current public census establishing the exact number in 2026. The most recent estimate identified for this article was approximately 190 macaques inside the park in fall 2015.
Can visitors catch herpes B from the Silver Springs monkeys?
Transmission requires contact with infected bodily fluids, such as through a bite, scratch, or mucous-membrane exposure. No confirmed human herpes B infection from a wild macaque has been reported, but the virus can be severe, so visitors should never touch or feed the monkeys.
What should I do after a macaque bite or scratch?
Scrub the wound with soap, detergent, or iodine for 15 minutes, rinse it under running water for another 15 to 20 minutes, and seek prompt medical care. Report the incident to the appropriate wildlife authorities.
The Bottom Line
Silver Springs State Park’s rhesus macaques are a human-introduced, nonnative colony—not a natural Florida population and not a tourist petting opportunity. The colony’s current size is uncertain, but the safety advice is straightforward: keep your distance, secure food and trash, never feed or touch a monkey, and get urgent medical care after any bite, scratch, or bodily-fluid exposure.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
