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Alhambra Creek Monkey |
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Monkeys in the San Francisco Bay Area of California?!? Strange but true, there is a small colony of displaced South American Squirrel Monkeys living in and along the Alhambra Creek in Martinez, CA. Decades ago, a circus owned a ranch near Briones Park in the Alhambra Valley and used it as their winter base. Over the years, circus monkeys would occassionally escape, and those that survived eventually formed a troop roaming the riparian creek region from Briones to downtown Martinez. The monkeys are well suited to our temperate climate, eating wild fruit, figs, and acorns, and have bred and survived over the years |
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ABOUT US: We are a volunteer group based in Martinez, California dedicated to the preservation of and education about the Alhambra Creek Monkey. The feral colony of Squirrel Monkeys is one of the few wild bands of primates in North America. We are available for outreach and Creek Monkey awareness for schools and civic groups. We meet the third Thursday of the month in downtown Martinez. New Members are always welcome. Thanks for visiting our site and spreading the word about these precious creatures.
Latest News:
Next FotACM Meeting Thursday Feb 20th at LeBeaus, 7:30PM in downtown Martinez
2-07-03 = SF Chronicle reports on Creek Monkeys in Martinez..
1-15-03 = Email us your Creek Monkey Sighting story or pictures to share.
1-06-03 = Happy New Year! Look for increased exposure of the Creek Monkey in the media. Thanks to our terrific volunteers that have shared their stories with the press.
10-18-02 = Thanks to our volunteers for their work passing out informational fliers as part of our annual awareness drive. Great Job Everybody!
4-25-02 = Congratulations to Ryan, age 6, for winning our Creek Monkey art contest. A scan of Ryan's winning entry is below. Thanks to all the youngsters who participated, you are all winners! |
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Telephoto picture of a Creek Monkey resting on a branch near the Alhambra train trestle |
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You can see and hear the diminutive Alhambra Creek Monkeys peeping, squawking and jumping in the canopy above the creek. UC Davis biologists have identified them as a new subspecies, and have named them Saimiri sciureus muir in honor of another immigrant who made Martinez his home, John Muir. |
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These monkeys are in peril. Despite their adaptations, the monkeys face unnatural threats every day. Development, litter, pollution and poaching are all taking their toll on the fragile family unit that the monkeys have established in Martinez.
7 Things YOU Can Do to Help:
- Keep the creek water clean; don't dump household or automobile fluids into gutters or storm drains.
- Do not dispose of cans, litter or shopping carts in the creek.
- Observe monkeys from a respectable distance, use binoculars.
- Do not feed, tease or taunt the monkeys.
- Report poaching or harrassment to the authorities immediately.
- Prevent erosion and defoliation caused by landscaping and construction along banks.
- Contact your lawmakers and ask what they are doing to help the monkeys. |
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Friends of the Alhambra Creek Monkey Contact Info: |
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Email: |
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mtzmonkey@yahoo.com |
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Informational Links: |
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City of Martinez |
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Historic Martinez |
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Squirrel Monkey FAQ |
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Alhambra Creek Watershed |
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Do it for the monkeys,
and do it for the children. |
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