A Bruce Township family reportedly discovered a stray animal in their yard, but it wasn't a dog.

A monkey was transported to the Macomb County Animal Shelter after it was discovered Monday night, according to a report in The Macomb Daily. The monkey appears to be a macaque, which is the most widely distributed type of primate, according to chief animal control officer Sue Jeroue.

"They can be aggressive," Jeroue told the paper. "It's a wild animal and a stray on top of that. It was potentially dangerous."

The macaques are described as having gray, brown or black fur, and are commonly housed in research facilities, zoos, wildlife parks or kept as pets, according to the report.

The monkey that was found weighs about 20 pounds or less and the gender was not known.

Jeroue said Wednesday that the monkey's owner has come forward, but the animal is being held at their facilities.

Monkeys are reportedly legal as pets in some areas. The animal shelter will determine if it is appropriate for the owner to have the pet, Jeroue said.

Jim Janson, a wildlife division permit specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said there are no restrictions in the state against owning a monkey; however, someone looking to keep a monkey as a pet must first check with their local government offices for ordinances against exotic pets, according to the paper's report.