Story highlights Kinkajous originate from Central and South America

Special permits allow people to keep them as pets

(CNN) An elderly woman in Miami woke up to quite a surprise when she found an exotic animal caressing her face.

Late Monday night, the woman was startled when she woke up staring at a kinkajou, which looks like a cross between a raccoon and monkey.

The woman, who has not been named in reports, screamed in panic and the animal scurried away into the attic, according to a Cathy Moghari, a family friend who helped rescue the animal. Moghari came over to the house to try to catch the feisty 2-foot-long creature, which she recognized as a kinkajou because of her experience with exotic animals, according to CNN affiliate WPLG

"I start thinking, 'How are we going to get this animal out?' So I googled kinkajou sounds and found a video," Moghari told WPLG . After doing an Internet search for kinkajous, Moghari played some kinkajous sounds with the speaker held up to the ceiling, the animal emerged. Moghari then used cherries to help lure the hungry and frightened animal into a cage.

Tuesday morning, the animal arrived at South Dade Avian and Exotic Animal Medical Center where veterinarian Don Harris was able to check over the health of the anxious creature.

The two-foot-long kinkajou was gven a health check at South Dade Avian and Exotic Animal Medical Center.

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