A 24-year-old Elyria, Ohio, man has died after being mauled Aug. 18 by a bear owned by Sam Mazzola, an exotic-pet showman who has battled with authorities over his animals for decades. In 2008, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported that Mazzola was permanently stripped of his federal license to exhibit exotic animals. He was fined $13,950 for exhibiting his bear-wrestling act without a license; refusing to allow an inspection of an exhibit; threatening, abusing and harassing federal officials; and illegally selling skunks at an Elyria store.
Link: The Plain Dealer[teaserbreak]