July 30, 1998 Dayton, OH A 15-ft-long python was found under a truck parked at Benham’s Caterers and Restaurant. Dayton firefighters were called and placed the python in a trash can. The snake was someone’s “pet.” Since the “owner” was unknown, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton found a man willing to take the snake. Reptiles
July 24, 1998 Bismarck, ND A Bengal tiger with the Bridgeport Nature Center mauled a 5-year-old boy at a North Dakota State Fair photo shoot. Big Cats
July 24, 1998 Nassau, NY A 6-ft-long python was found in a woman’s fishpond. Police captured the snake and placed him in their custody. The “owner” remained unknown. Reptiles
July 10, 1998 Roosevelt, NY An 8-ft-long boa constrictor escaped and was seen slithering down a street in a residential area. Police officers found the snake curled underneath a car. The snake belonged to someone in the neighborhood. The boa constrictor was recaptured and returned to its tank. Reptiles
July 9, 1998 Madison, WI Two elephants at the Henry Vilas Zoo injured a zookeeper by picking him up, throwing him to the ground, and kneeling on him. One of the elephants had attacked zookeepers twice before. Elephants
May 22, 1998 Carson City, NV A 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old girl were severely bitten by their grandfather’s “pet” wolf hybrid. The 3-year-old was in intensive care for six nights. The grandfather was sentenced to six days in jail and 100 hours of community service for keeping a dangerous dog. Other
May 2, 1998 Wichita, KS Macaque monkey may have bitten a teenager at a store promotional event. The monkey was being tested for the herpes virus. Primates
April 21, 1998 Los Angeles, CA Two zebras broke the lock of their gate after hours and got out of their enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo. One zebra was herded back after 45 minutes, while the other had to be anesthetized. Other
April 7, 1998 Wylie, TX A neighbor’s “pet” cougar bit a 4-year-old boy on the leg while its “owner” was showing the cougar to several people. At the time of the incident, the cougar was caged. The boy was treated at a hospital for scratches and puncture wounds. Big Cats
April 2, 1998 Charlotte, NC A lion at the Charlotte Metro Zoo attacked and seriously injured a worker cleaning the animal’s cage. The worker suffered puncture wounds to both legs and the back of the head. Big Cats