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.”
