Forty monkeys are on the loose in South Carolina after escaping from a research facility South Carolina

These monkeys went crazy: 40 monkeys escaped from a research facility in South Carolina, and local authorities warned residents Wednesday to stay away.

“Residents are strongly encouraged to secure doors and windows to prevent these animals from entering their homes,” Yemassee police said on Facebook this week. “If you spot any of the escaped animals, please call 911 immediately and do not approach them.”

The escaped monkeys came from the Alpha Genesis research center, which describes itself as “specialists in primate research.” Police said they had set up traps in the area and were “using thermal imaging cameras to locate the animals.”

Alpha Genesis boasts on its website that the company “offers the highest quality non-human primate products and bioresearch services worldwide.” The company also claims, “We are committed to providing only the best and most cost-effective primate research and development support to the scientific community.”

Yemassee police said “multiple officers” are working with Alpha Genesis personnel to capture the monkeys.

While monkey escapes are not common in the area, The Post and Courier newspaper notes that they have occurred several times in recent history.

A Japanese macaque left his home in Walterboro this May. Local wildlife authorities announced that the macaque had been arrested and said two days later that it had been found dead.

This isn't Alpha Genesis' first rodeo with unruly animals either: in 2016, 19 monkeys escaped the facility. After six hours they were returned to Alpha Genesis.

Other notable cases of escaped monkeys occur in Florida; Nearly 100 years ago, an eccentric boat captain released two groups of monkeys in the Silver Springs area. Many of these monkeys are now carriers of herpes.