THE OMAHA NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

Monday, February 23, 2026 | Breaking News Edition

Local • Wildlife • Public Health • Community

MONKEYS ESCAPE OMAHA ZOO, DISTRIBUTE GRAPE LOLLIPOPS TO BEWILDERED RESIDENTS

Approximately 10 primates sighted at 11th & Hickory at 5:00 AM; one resident accepts candy from animals, receives medical evaluation

By Staff Reporter | OMAHA, NE

!Escaped rhesus macaques at 11th and Hickory, Omaha, Nebraska — February 23, 2026

PHOTO: Escaped rhesus macaques at the intersection of 11th Street and Hickory, Omaha, Nebraska — February 23, 2026.

OMAHA, NE — In what officials are calling an "unprecedented wildlife incident," a group of approximately ten rhesus macaques escaped from the Henry Doorly Zoo in the early hours of Monday morning and made their way to a residential neighborhood, where they were observed distributing grape-flavored lollipops to at least one startled resident.

The animals were first reported at the intersection of 11th Street and Hickory at approximately 5:00 AM. According to a Nextdoor community post that quickly went viral, the monkeys appeared calm and approachable, with multiple animals carrying the purple grape-flavored confections. The group showed no aggressive behavior and instead actively offered the lollipops to a nearby resident — who, in a decision that has since sparked considerable public debate, accepted and consumed one.

"No Injuries Reported — But Medical Evaluation Advised"

Animal control officials confirmed that while no physical injuries were reported, direct contact occurred between the resident and the animals, including petting. Given that primates can carry diseases transmissible to humans — including herpes B virus — the resident was advised to wash thoroughly and seek medical evaluation as a precautionary measure.

"We want to stress that this was a very unusual situation," a spokesperson for the zoo said in a statement. "We urge the public not to approach, feed, or accept food from escaped zoo animals, regardless of how friendly they may appear."

Questions Remain About the Lollipops

Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of the incident — beyond the escape itself — is how the monkeys came to possess grape lollipops. Zoo officials have not yet provided an explanation, though animal behavior experts note that primates are highly capable of obtaining and hoarding objects from their environment.

"These animals are far more intelligent than most people give them credit for," said one wildlife researcher reached by phone. "Tool use, social coordination, planning ahead — none of this would be out of character for a group of macaques that has had time to get organized."

Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media also allege that one of the animals appeared to have an unusual physical characteristic, though these claims have not been verified by zoo officials and may reflect the kind of embellishment common to early-morning wildlife encounters.

Capture Efforts Underway

Trained zoo personnel and animal control officers were dispatched to the 11th and Hickory area following the initial report. As of press time, it is unclear how many of the animals have been recovered. Residents in the surrounding blocks are advised to remain indoors, keep pets inside, and — critically — not to accept food items of any kind from wildlife.

The incident has drawn national attention on social media, with many commentators noting that the monkeys appeared — by all photographic evidence — to be having a considerably better Monday morning than most of the humans who encountered them.

This story is developing. Updates will be published as information becomes available.

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