November 24, 2009 Wylie, TX Jasa, a 40-lb African serval cat, escaped her home and was missing. The possessor said she was trained, microchipped, and wearing a red harness and color. Traps were set but so far she remained loose. Small Cats
November 22, 2009 Oldsmar, FL Pinellas County Sheriffs deputies and officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were unsuccessful in capturing a 30-lb monkey that was seen in trees and rooftops near an apartment complex. The monkey eluded them and disappeared into a heavily-wooded area. Officials warned residents that the monkey could be aggressive and asked them to contact authorities if he was spotted again. Primates
November 20, 2009 Delhi, LA More than a dozen wild sika deer remained at large after escaping through a 20-ft gap in their fenced enclosure. Louisiana Department of Wildlife agents expressed concern that the exotic deer could be carrrying foreign diseases and called on hunters to track and kill the deer. Other
November 14, 2009 Foley, AL A former zoo employee captured a loose capuchin monkey in a tarp but the monkey escaped again. A resident who claimed he was looking for his “pet” capuchin commented that he’d leave his contact info if he was unsuccessful in finding the monkey. Primates
November 7, 2009 Las Cruces, NM A bobcat was recaptured at the former home of an exotic cat breeder. Another larger cat was thought to be missing. Traps were set and the cat posed no threat to humans. The cat’s possessor was evicted from his home for keeping unpermitted exotic animals. County Control Officers continued to capture other exotic-looking domestic cats from the resident and the investigation was ongoing. Small Cats
November 4, 2009 Enid, OK A 29-year-old female Asian elephant escaped from the Family Fun Circus at the Garfield County Fairgrounds after being spooked. The elephant was struck by a couple in an SUV. The couple was not injured but the elephant sustained a broken tusk, an injured leg, and bumps, bruises, and scratches. A local vet administered a calming shot and treated the elephant’s injuries. The elephant was later transported to the veterinary school at Oklahoma State University for a follow-up exam. Elephants
October 28, 2009 Fall River, MA A pet store owner caught a 5-ft-long alligator behind a shopping mall in an effort to save the alligator from being killed by authorities. The owner was willing to wade through a leech-filed swamp to rescue the reptile. The alligator was turned over to the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to be placed in a suitable sanctuary. Reptiles
October 27, 2009 Vero Beach, FL A Vero Beach neighborhood had an unwanted visitor when a 9-ft-long Burmese python was captured in a backyard. Indian River Care and Control took temporary custody of the snake but intended to turn him over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Reptiles
October 19, 2009 Brookville, FL A man was attacked by a “zonkey” while painting the fence at Boyett Groves. He suffered numerous bite marks on his lower legs. Other
October 4, 2009 Saylorsburg, PA Teddy, a 9-year-old 350-lb black bear raised from a cub, attacked and killed his “owner” while she cleaned his cage. A neighbor shot the bear dead. The bear was owned legally. A local official said that owners of wild animals usually have a two-section cage, allowing them to isolate the animal behind a locked gate while they clean the other part, but he was baffled why this woman chose to go in the same area the bear was in, calling it a “fatal mistake. These things are not tame animals; they’re wild animals.” Bears