Freed from preserve by tropical storm, monkey roams hills of northwest San Antonio suburbs

Escaped ape roams suburban San Antonio hills

SAN ANTONIO — A spider monkey named W.C. Fields is roaming the hilly suburban subdivisions northwest of San Antonio after escaping from a primate preserve.

Primarily Primates president Stephen Tello tells the San Antonio Express-News that the monkey escaped from the sanctuary last week when strong winds from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine tore open his wire enclosure.

So far, workers haven’t been able to capture him as he’s roamed for miles.

While sanctuary officials say the monkey is probably frightened, he’s also scared some residents as he searches for food.

Gilbert Rodriguez tells KENS-TV of San Antonio that his agitated wife called him Monday, saying a monkey had chased her into her garage. No one was injured, but the woman’s nephew, Matt Meneses, says she was trapped for more than an hour.