July 15, 2002 Norfolk, VA Kalisa, a 3-year-old African lioness, killed another female lion in a fight over a wild duck that flew into the enclosure. Big Cats
July 11, 2002 Albuquerque, NM A 5-ft-long python escaped from his cage and was thought to be somewhere in the house or wandering the neighborhood. The home was the residence of two children. Reptiles
July 10, 2002 Bowie, MD A land tortoise was on the loose in Bowie. The “pet” tortoise escaped from her backyard while her guardians were out of town. Reptiles
July 6, 2002 East Hempfield Township, PA A “pet” alligator escaped from his home and was found on the 15th green of a Lancaster County golf course. The alligator was returned to his possessor. Reptiles
July 5, 2002 Hermitage, TN A family disclosed that their exotic “pet” cat resembling a cheetah has escaped his home. Big Cats
July 4, 2002 St. Tammany Parish, LA A 12-ft-long Burmese python was recaptured by a neighbor. Reptiles
July 2, 2002 Stonington, CT A serval hybrid cat was on the loose after he escaped from his home. Small Cats
July 1, 2002 West Concord, MN Cindy Lou, a captive black bear, bit a 7-year-old girl while her grandfather was feeding the bears. The bear lunged at the girl, biting her right leg and taking her to the ground. Bears
July 1, 2002 Henrietta, NY A man was bitten by his “pet” rattlesnake, which he was keeping illegally. The man was handling three timber rattlesnakes in his home when one of the snakes bit him. Reptiles