Most visitors never meet most of this. Florida is a big state and its wildlife changes a lot from region to region - a cane toad is a South Florida backyard problem, a black bear is a central and north Florida one, and a crocodile only matters in the far south. These guides are here for the encounter you do have, not because one is likely.
South Florida has a small, established population of wild African vervet monkeys near Dania Beach and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
They are not native to Florida.
The population traces back to monkeys that escaped from a primate facility in the 1940s.
For pet travelers, the practical rule is:
Do not feed, approach or let a dog chase them.
Where Are Florida’s Vervet Monkeys?
The established population lives around:
- Dania Beach
- Mangrove habitat near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
- Southern Broward County
University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University research identify this as Florida’s stable South Florida vervet population.
What Species Are They?
Genetic research confirmed the animals are:
Chlorocebus sabaeus
They are often called:
- Vervet monkeys
- Green monkeys
Their natural range is in West Africa.
How Did They Get Here?
FAU researchers traced the population to an escape in 1948 from the Dania Chimpanzee Farm.
The facility functioned as both:
- Zoo
- Research-animal supplier
Historical evidence suggests the monkeys had been imported from West Africa.
How Many Are There?
UF/IFAS reports that a 2020 census found about:
40 monkeys in four groups
Earlier counts were similar.
That suggests the population has been relatively stable rather than exploding in size.
Why Haven’t They Spread Across Florida?
Researchers are still studying the population’s long-term stability.
The group has survived for decades in a relatively small urban and mangrove landscape.
They Are Very Habituated to People
UF/IFAS notes that the Dania Beach monkeys are highly accustomed to humans.
People have regularly fed them over the years.
That does not mean they are tame.
A wild primate that approaches people is still a wild animal.
Feeding Monkeys
Dania Beach has had an ordinance prohibiting monkey feeding since 1993.
Feeding wildlife can:
- Encourage close approaches
- Increase conflict
- Alter natural behavior
Do not feed them.
Dogs and Vervet Monkeys
A dog may react by:
- Barking
- Lunging
- Chasing
The monkey may:
- Climb
- Flee
- Defend itself
Keep your dog under control.
Use a Short Leash
If you are walking in an area where monkeys are present:
- Use a 6-foot or shorter leash
- Keep the dog close
- Do not let the dog enter mangroves or brush
- Increase distance from monkeys
Do Not Corner Them
A monkey with no escape route may defend itself.
Never position your dog between a monkey and:
- Tree
- Mangrove
- Fence
- Escape path
What Do Vervet Monkeys Eat?
Vervet monkeys are omnivorous.
Their natural diet can include:
- Fruit
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Insects
- Small vertebrates
- Bird eggs
Do not encourage them to investigate pet food.
Keep Pet Food Indoors
If staying near Dania Beach:
- Do not leave pet food outside
- Pick up food bowls after meals
- Secure garbage
This follows broader Florida wildlife-safety practice.
If a Monkey Bites or Scratches a Dog
Contact a veterinarian immediately.
Any wild-animal bite can cause:
- Puncture wounds
- Infection
- Tissue injury
If a Person Is Bitten
Seek medical care.
Do not treat a wild primate bite casually.
Are They Dangerous?
There is no need to panic about seeing a vervet monkey.
The safest approach is simply:
- Observe from a distance
- Do not feed
- Do not touch
- Keep pets controlled
Best Way to See Them
Do not pursue them through neighborhoods or mangroves.
If you happen to see them from a legal public location, enjoy the sighting from a distance.
Related Guides
- Wild Monkeys in Florida
- Rhesus Macaques at Silver Springs
- Florida Wildlife With Pets: Complete Guide
- Coyotes in Florida Neighborhoods
- Florida Wildlife Emergency Checklist for Pet Travelers
South Florida’s vervet monkeys are a genuine piece of Florida’s strange wildlife history.
They are not pets.
They are not attractions to approach.
They are wild animals living in an urban landscape.
Sources
- UF/IFAS — Nonnative Monkey Populations of Florida: ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- Florida Atlantic University — Origin of Monkeys Living Near an Urban Airport: fau.edu
- FAU — Monkeys Are Her Business: fau.edu
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