Alabama Starbucks Employee Attacked by Pet Monkey in Drive-Thru

A Starbucks employee in Tillman’s Corner required stitches and vaccinations last week after a customer’s pet monkey attacked her in the drive-thru window. The incident unfolded when the monkey jumped from the customer's vehicle, climbed up the employee's arm, bit her, and caused injuries. A coworker managed to grab the monkey and throw it back outside, ending the attack.

A Starbucks In Mobile Alabama

The event occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 10, at the Starbucks on Rangeline Road near Halls Mill Road. According to a report from the Mobile Police Department, the monkey leaped into the service window and attacked the employee after the customer pulled up to the drive-thru. The animal was eventually pulled off the employee by a coworker and returned to the customer’s car before the customer drove off.

The Mobile Police Department confirmed that the monkey’s owner, identified as Tammy Elaine Gardner, left the scene before officers arrived. The Mobile County Health Department was informed of the attack, and authorities are investigating the incident.

The employee, who asked to remain anonymous, suffered bite wounds on her hands and a laceration to her ear, which required stitches. In an interview, she recalled that she had never interacted with the customer before. As the customer arrived at the drive-thru window, one of the monkeys jumped out of the car and immediately attacked her hand. The animal then moved up her arm and bit her ear.

“It was a total shock. We never expected anything like that to happen,” the employee said. “I didn’t even realize what was happening until I felt it on my head.”

According to the employee, the situation escalated quickly, with the monkey becoming increasingly aggressive before being thrown back out of the window by a coworker. After the attack, the customer returned briefly to check on the employee but did not leave any personal information before leaving.

When contacted about the incident, Gardner declined to comment, stating in a social media message, “I'm not willing to put my primate at any more risk, so no, thank you.”

Mobile Animal Services responded to the scene on January 10, and the Health Department followed up with the employee three days later, advising her to seek medical attention. The employee was required to get a rabies vaccination and undergo blood tests. The Health Department later identified the monkey’s owner and began tracking the animal's health to ensure it didn't carry any infectious diseases.

How Did Starbucks Corporate Respond?

Starbucks corporate responded by banning monkeys from the drive-thru, directing employees to prevent them from coming through the service window, though customers can still use the drive-thru if the animals remain in the vehicle. The employee said she had learned that Gardner owns multiple monkeys and had previously driven through the Starbucks service line with them, even dressing the animals in costumes and leashes.

Did The Monkey Have Rabies?

The Mobile County Health Officer, Dr. Kevin Michaels, confirmed that the monkey involved was an Aotus monkey, also known as a night or owl monkey. While the bite was unfortunate, Michaels noted that the animal’s health had been thoroughly checked, and the monkey was cleared of any diseases after a veterinary evaluation.

As a result of the incident, the monkey’s owner was cited for two municipal violations: failing to restrain an animal and allowing a potentially dangerous animal to be unsupervised. These violations each carry a $25 fine under city ordinances that require animals to be caged or leashed when off their owner’s property.

Despite the traumatic experience, the employee expressed gratitude for her health insurance and Starbucks' workers' compensation benefits, which will cover any out-of-pocket medical expenses. She also mentioned receiving a personal call from a claims department representative who was surprised by the bizarre nature of the incident.

“I was shocked that something like this could happen at work,” she said. “But I’m glad I’m getting the support I need to take care of myself.”

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