License for Killer Pet Black Bear Expired

A local woman was mauled to death by her pet black bear Sunday while she was cleaning out its cage, say state police and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The license to own the bear was expired.

Kelly Ann Walz, 37, and her husband Michael owned the 350-pound black bear, as well as various wild cats such as an African lion and a Bengal tiger, at their Dogwood Lane residence in Ross Township, Pa. The woman's husband, Michael Walz, is an exotic pet dealer operating with an expired license, say police.

In an attempt to clean the black bear’s cage Sunday, Kelly Ann Walz threw a shovelful of dog food to one side of the 15-by-15 steel pen in order to distract the animal at about 5 p.m. The bear, which the Walzs had owned for the past nine years, attacked her while she cleaned, Tim Conway, a Pennsylvania Game Commission official, told the Morning Call.

Kelly Ann Walz's children and her neighbors' children saw the bear attack and called for help. A neighbor shot and killed the bear while it was on top of the Monroe County woman. Kelly Ann died at the scene.

"These animals, even though they may be very docile one day, you never know," Conway said. "They are wild animals and they're very powerful and they could easily destroy your day."

Though bear attacks in captivity are rare, they still happen every year all over the country Conway said.

Michael Walz, who is the president of World of Reptiles, Inc., according to state corporation records, also listed a lion, a cougar, a jaguar, a leopard and two servals (African wildcats) in his possession in 2007. His license expired in June 2008.

"I don't know what makes an individual want to have a pet or animal like this in captivity," he said. "I just don't."

State police are still investigating the bear attack. 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

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