July 26, 2014 Bel-Ridge, MO A man attempted to steal an alligator from Exotic Amphibian Reptile Center. He placed the reptile in his shorts pocket and and walked out of the store. He was charged with stealing an animal, a felony. Reptiles
July 22, 2014 Columbus, GA Snake experts caught a python that was between 10-11 feet long when the pet snake escaped its enclosure. The snake was returned. Reptiles
July 21, 2014 Lake Hopatcong, NJ A large snake believed to be a green anaconda is being spotted by lake goers in and around Lake Hopatcong. The snake is believed to be around 15 feet long and thought to be a former pet. Reptiles
July 20, 2014 New York, NY A 9-foot snake was found slithering through the grass at Washington Square Park. Authorities were called and the snake was captured. The snake is believed to be a former pet. Reptiles
July 18, 2014 Honolulu, HI Rosey, a 25-year-old hippopotamus, died unexpectedly. Hippos in captivity can live to be up to 50 years old. The necropsy was inconclusive but zoo staff felt that noise, stress, and heat from the new water system being installed in the enclosure likely played a role. Other
July 10, 2014 Warren, MI 30 animals including exotics were seized from a garage of a home. Among the animals confiscated are two white-nosed coatis, three fennec foxes and two ring-tailed lemurs, along with several rabbits and birds kept in small cages. The exotic animals were taken to the Detroit Zoo. The discovery was made when an animal control officer captured one of the coatis who had escaped. The fate of the resident is unclear at this time. PrimatesOther
July 10, 2014 Santa Fe, NM A woman found a 20-pound, 6-foot long boa constrictor in her pickup truck’s engine compartment. The snake is believed to be an escaped pet and suffered minor injuries. Reptiles
July 8, 2014 Meridianville, AL A pet wallaby escaped from a backyard and was found hopping around the neighborhood. The animal was caught and returned to his guardian. Other
July 7, 2014 Longview, TX The owner of an alligator kept as a pet in a bathtub is facing a charge of illegally owning a wild animal. The alligator is now in custody of animal control. Reptiles
June 26, 2014 Loxahatchee, FL A licensed snake handler was bitten by a cobra while attempting to clean the cage at McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary. She was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover. * Follow up – the woman returned to the hospital with an infected hand days after being released. Reptiles