Ross Township PA woman killed by pet bear

Kelly Ann Walz, 37, of Ross Township, PA, was mauled to death Sunday night by her pet black bear.

Walz, who also kept a tiger and a lion on the property, had entered the bear’s cage to clean the cage and feed the 350-lb bear when it attacked and ultimately killed her. Police say the animal was kept in a 15 x 15 enclosure on the woman’s property, and that she’d attempted to distract the bear with dog food while she cleaned the cage.

The bear was shot and killed by a neighbor, and an investigation is ongoing. A local official spoke to press about the risk undertaken in owning unconventional pets:

Tim Conway, of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, told the Morning Call local newspaper: “These animals, even though they may be very docile one day, you never know.

They are wild animals and they’re very powerful and they could easily destroy your day.”