Only in Lake Norman do you get headlines like this: “Capuchin Monkey on the Loose in Troutman.”

Yep, last week a little capuchin monkey decided she was ready for an adventure outside of Zootastic Park. Locals spotted her swinging from power lines like she was auditioning for the next Spider-Man movie, and of course—because this is 2025—video of the monkey went viral faster than you can say “Zootastic.”

But here’s where things got dicey: after several days on the run, the monkey was hit by a vehicle in Troutman. Before you panic—Animal Services confirmed she survived, was returned safely to her owner, and is expected to be just fine. (Talk about using up a few of those nine lives… or however many monkeys get.)

The whole ordeal became Troutman’s most talked-about “Where’s Waldo?” moment of the week, with neighbors swapping stories and sightings on social media. It’s a reminder that around the Lake Norman area, you never really know what you’ll spot on your morning commute—sometimes it’s deer, sometimes it’s traffic backups on I-77, and sometimes it’s… a monkey.

One thing’s for sure: the capuchin is back where she belongs, safe and sound. And for the rest of us? Just another chapter in the “you can’t make this stuff up” book of Lake Norman living.