Leaping Lemurs: The strangest sighting yet on Sanibel

As a nature island dedicated to the preservation of wild life, we are always happy to learn that a new species has been spotted on Sanibel...or that a species thought long gone is back again.

In the past couple of years, there have been some delightful sightings.  There  was the bear who made it over to visit, gray fox have been heard in the night, and the indigo snake believed long gone is enjoying the Island once again.

But all the above are critters indigenous to the Island, or at least the area.

The sightings last month have certainly created much more of a stir.

Ring tailed Lemurs are only found on Madagascar, so imagine the surprise when there were a couple of calls into the city's environmental office reporting their appearance.

The first report was largely dismissed, the thought being that the person who saw them mistook 2 raccoons for lemurs.  Even the second call did not raise real concern.

But when a third sighting was reported, by a city employee well versed in just what a lemur looks like, the reality set in. 

There could really be a pair of Lemurs roaming the Island!  Though no one has yet been able to capture a photo of the special couple, the accuracy in detailing their appearance leaves little doubt after the third sighting.

If it does turn out lemurs are roaming Sanibel, the city will work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to decide what to do.    Holly Milbrandt, the city’s environmental biologist says the Island's WCC will probably catch and move them. Milbrandt thinks it’s most likely that someone let them go on the island or they’re escaped pets, though none have been reported missing.

Thanks to their fuzzy coats, big golden eyes and black button noses (remember King Julian in “Madagascar”?) ring-tailed lemurs easily win human hearts. They star in zoos and preserves around the world and in Southwest Florida, live at the Naples Zoo, North Fort Myers’ Shell Factory and Sanibel’s Periwinkle Park Campground, — and yes, all of the park’s lemurs are accounted for.

With rounded fingernails instead of claws and fused lower teeth, Milbrandt doubts the lemurs pose a major threat to humans, “though we do want the public to be safe.”

“If they’ve escaped from somewhere, they’re probably more scared than we are,” she says. “We just want to be sure the animals are safe. It doesn’t make sense to just let them fend for themselves.”

So keep your eyes  and mind open and pay attention to movement in the bushes.  You might just find a rare visitor in your midst!