RACINE -- A volunteer at Bear Cat Hollow in Racine was hospitalized after a monkey bit her Sunday.

According to sheriff's reports, Jade Landgrebe, 21, was working at the park Sunday morning and said many of the animals were agitated from a storm the night before. When she walked by a spider monkey's cage, she said the monkey reached out to hug her like he usually does when he sees her. They hugged, but when she tried to pull away, the sheriff's report says he grabbed her hair and bit the pinkie finger on her left hand.

The bite was approximately an inch long and went down to the bone. She was taken to St. Mary's in Rochester and received five stitches. The veterinarian at Bear Cat Hollow told her she could get a rabies shot or the monkey could be tested for the disease. She opted for the shot, but was still under observation at St. Mary's Monday afternoon.

The monkey has been quarantined for 30 days.

Amanda L. Rohde can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com