www.CostaRicaTicas.com

That's what he said at his "New coach press conference" in Tampa this week. The Tico Times carried the story, linked below. I know a little about the 4 monkey species in CR. When I first started going to CR, the city boy in me was awestruck when I first saw them doing their circus jumps up high, so I used to read alot about our four that are scientifically classified as "New World Monkeys". In CR, you'll see the the little Squirrel Monkeys or the little Capuchins or little Spiders that the govt says don't feed but all the dopey tourists do so they come down out of the trees and sit at a vacant table, or poolside, or railing to get food to their detriment, another story.

And then there's the Howler's, the biggest, males can reach 25 lbs. Where I lay my head at least 2 nights a week when I'm in CR is 18 klicks east of the Quepos Hospital way out in the boonies in a banana farm area, so I hear Howler's almost daily---like mainly 4:30 am and then late afternoon--and as many of you know you can hear them fuckers a mile away--they have an extremely loud escalating call, much louder then you would think a mammal of that size could generate. First timers would be right to think it was friggin King Kong yelling. Sometimes they are so close I can't sleep. Don't see them very much, by daylight they're gone, and when I hear them toward evening they're way back. But, when I do see them, they are as high in the canopy as they can get. But, I've never seen a Howler on the ground at any distance.

As the photo and story point out below, if you are able to get close to where they are pirching, they'll piss or shit on you with surprising accuracy.

The other 3 types of CR monkey's, yeah, maybe I can imagine them walking into an open hotel room door if they've been conditioned to do so. Maybe certain people rented that room out a long time and were dopey enough to train them to come in for food.

But, Howler's walking into a hotel room and then sitting at the table? Cut off a 2 month CR vacation at day 9 rather then move to a different area? Kind of hard for me to buy that one Lovie. More likely opportunities were warming up and good for you. But good luck with the Bucs, been awhile for them. And thanks for the story.

http://www.ticotimes.net/More-news/News ... ry-07-2014

Yeah, you can't leave any bags or other items unattended because the monkeys will steal them. If I recall
correctly, there are signs posted at the beaches in Manuel Antonio that warn tourists to not leave items unattended. I remember staying at the Hotel Parador and the Si Como No on the road from Quepos to Manuel Antonio, and there were always a lot of them in the trees just outside my rooms. And, as DGD stated, they can be loud!
As for Lovie, I think he'll do alright with the Bucs...he can't be worse than Schiano!

_________________
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

If you gotta know and hear more, here's 11 minutes of them carryin' on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHaYQWwCXZw << largest primates in the Neotropics--some bad mofos

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Hey if I was an unemployed Primate in the jungle with a noisy family to feed (will she never shut up?), what would I do? Talk about training wrongfully with low-hanging fruit...Kinda reminds me of the entrapment trick used to trap "car thieves"--leave a late-model windows-down car with the engine running and see who snaps...Surprised at those who don't. Lesson; Always everywhere be aware of your surroundings and LOCK YOUR SCHIZ UP! Simple, right? "...But I've known her for a decade..." Pal, it's a new decade--you skated last one...Unless you need to test...
This needs to end with another Paul Carrack song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsKJw1HIAt0 << there are bigger, more bellicose versions; there is no more personal, more impassioned version

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

monkeys are disgusting and those howlers can be downright evil intimidating little bastards. i've seen them act threateningly to people that just stood a safe distance and watched.
but hey it was theirs first i guess.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Howler monkies are completely harmless unless you are a typical idiot tourist in awe watching them. I can't tell you how many idiots I watched over the years during happy hour at a local bar here. The monkeys move through the trees on nearly a daily basis like clock work. As they drink their beverage or eat their pizza/burger/whatever, they stare up at the monkeys and a natural reflex as you look up as far as possible is to leave your mouth open..... NOT a good idea when the most common thing a howler monkey does while he eats is shit and piss! The whole reason the locals are the ones under the canopy and the tourists are shocked to find open tables at the busiest time of the day under the trees!

Lovie most likely encountered a White Faced monkey which are mean little sons of bitches. They are actually carnivores and will hunt in packs other animals such as the bigger howler monkey, pizotes, small cats, squirrels, etc. White faced monkeys are the ones who will flash their teeth, so much so that ticos call them cara brava or angry face monkeys.

Howlers are vegetarians and need as many hours of sunshine as possible to help produce their energy.
The reason they all howl in the AM is to warn other troupes of their location to avoid conflict. Basically they are screaming "hey we are over here, you all stay over there"!
I have been awakened by them as I slept in the SL, by their loud ranting over in the zoo area. Down in the Osa/Corcovado area this is a sure thing to hear them each morning and probably more often.
The other Costa Rican monkeys (spiders and white face) are eaters of eggs, birds, snakes, other baby monkeys and small mammals and reptiles.
Yes, follow this good advice.....never look up at monkeys directly overhead with your mouth open, and do not leave your stuff unattended out in the open!

_________________
"What it is, is what it will be!" An expression of Jamaican pidgin about the enevibility of life.

had my daughter with me on a trip, and we were driving into the beach in Guanacaste and I had just told her to watch the trees along the road for monkeys. And yep sure enough not half mile further there was a troop of howlers right there. They were in a tree right on the road about 25 feet up. We got out and took some pictures, and sure enough, got hit with some piss.
got some good pictures somewhere, might be on the old computer, closest to them I have ever been.
This was about 10 years ago. Not sure they are as plentiful down there now as then, but I would hope so.
Its pretty awesome to be somewhere where they have freaking monkeys hanging out!
Most people don't ever get to see them in the wild like that.

What would have changed the monkey population here?

Possible reasons include deforestation, environmental pollution or an upsurge in in the CR taste for monkey meat. All 3 could drive them deeper into the jungle. Just sayin...

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

What would have changed the monkey population here?[/quote

My main thought was loss of habitat, as generally speaking more people will equal less monkeys.
But again, its been 10 years or so since I was last down/up that way so I don't know, maybe the building boom died out and the area is more or less as it was?