Monkey Impounded After Biting Woman Outside Cherry Valley Eatery

A monkey has been handed over to the state Department of Fish & Wildlife for observation after it bit a woman near Beaumont, officials reported Tuesday.

The monkey— which goes by the name Baby G— was surrendered by its Cherry Valley owner on Tuesday afternoon, according to Riverside County Department of Animal Services Spokesman John Welsh.

According to Welsh, it’s believed the capuchin monkey bit the unidentified 38-year-old woman on her forearm while she was outside Antonious Pizza on Beaumont Avenue on Sunday. It wasn’t immediately clear what circumstances led up to the incident.

“A six-month quarantine period will be observed to make sure the monkey is not carrying the rabies virus,” Welsh said. “The monkey will be quarantined at a Fish & Wildlife holding facility.”

What’s more, the Cherry Valley woman who owned the monkey was forced to hand over two others, because it wasn’t clear if she had the necessary permits to keep them.

“One of those was also a capuchin and the other was a tamarin,” Welsh said. “Fish & Wildlife wardens impounded those monkeys because the owner could not produce a special permit to legally own such exotic pets.”

Riverside County Chief Veterinarian Dr. Allan Drusy said that it’s not likely Baby G has rabies, but it must be quarantined in the interest in public health, as any mammal can be susceptible to rabies virus infections.

Welsh said that if the owner is able to obtain the correct permits, she can have her monkeys back.