Monkey bites woman outside Riverside County pizzeria

A capuchin monkey that bit a woman outside a Riverside County pizzeria will be under quarantine for six months to ensure that it is not carrying the rabies virus, authorities said Tuesday.

The incident occurred Sunday afternoon outside Antonious Pizza in Beaumont, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

The 35-year-old woman, who was not identified, suffered a laceration to her forearm and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. It was not immediately clear what may have prompted the attack.

Wendelin Ringel, of Cherry Valley, surrendered the capuchin Tuesday to California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens, who transferred it to animal services officials for observation.

Two other monkeys belonging to Ringel were also confiscated because she did not have the permit needed to legally own them, Riverside County Animal Services spokesman John Welsh said in a news release.

Once Ringel obtains the permit, she will be able to retrieve the primates, he said.

Capuchin monkeys, which hail from Central and South America, generally live 15 to 25 years in the wild and can reach about 22 inches in length.

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