A woman was attacked by a black bear and killed in PA yesterday. How? Well, she thought keeping a black bear as a PET was a good idea. When she went into it's cage to clean up, she didn't lure it over to the smaller section which she could close off. Instead, she went right in the cage with the bear to clean.

You see, not only did she keep a 350 lbs black bear as a pet, but she figured it was safe to go into the cage with it. She and her husband also kept other wild animals.. Like skunks... AND a lion and tiger.

I may sound cold hearted, but I guess to me it just makes sense that you shouldn't keep wild animals as pets... Especially if you don't know how to be safe around them.

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- The Federalist #46 -

From what I read, it sounded like she counted on the dog food keeping it occupied while she cleaned the cage.

I guess she thought since she had it for a while, it might not "bite the hand that feeds it." Her assumption was incorrect- wild animals will always be wild animals.

I guess she dismissed the chimpanzee attack that happened a while back as something that "could never happen to her."
She let her guard down, plain and simple.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

A few years ago there was a story in the news about some old guy who kept a tiger (or was it a lion?) in a cage in his yard. One day his grandson came to visit and ventured too close to the cage with horrific results. The old guy said he never dreamed anything like that could happen.

Sometimes, all you can do is shake your head...

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You're shy a few manners.

As Agent for a State Camp and in constant contact with same this is, as reported I believe, the first documented death by a Black Bear in Pennsylvania. Shame and stupid.

This isn't possible?
Everyone knows that Black bears never attack humans?
And certainly never kill them!
Well, at least the humans that have a gun and can shoot they don't?

Rule Number 1: All black bears must be assumed to be loaded at all times.

Was this an EBB? I guess not, since it apparently didn't have enough "scary" features to scare some sense into the "victim". Will her husband now become a hunter to eradicate EBBs wherever they may be found?

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NRA Life Member

Yeah Perp,
Everyone knows it's Raccoon that are dangerous, not Black bear!
Who was that moron a few years ago that decided to go up to Alaska and try to winter over cuddled up with some Browns? That one too, worked out well...

It was reported in the Pocono Record that the cage was 15x15.

I'd have killed her too.

That needs to be listed under the column headed 'Not Too Bright'.

Obviously the bear was provoked. He came from a good family and was really trying to turn his life around. I do hope they try to rehab him.

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sona si latine loqueris .

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WALSTIB

This gal did not read and heed the "Bear Gun" thread.

Would have made a good "Stupid People Tricks" episode for Letterman, right after his "Sleeping With My Subordinates" episode.

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NRA Life Member

Most PREDATORY bear attacks are by black bears.

T-Star

My sympathy to her family. But, what is wrong with people? As someone else said, wild animals will always be wild and unpredictable. In my opinion, people who keep animals like this in a cage are guilty of animal cruelty. And criminal stupidity! It's one thing to be provide a sanctuary, but quite another to keep bears, lions, tigers, chimps, etc. in small enclosures and cages. They aren't meant to be domesticated. I'm not sure which I feel more sorry for, the animals or the people who keep them and end up being mauled or killed.

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Misty

Maybe she watched too much Yogi and thought she was smarter than the average bear.

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NRA Life Member

How many people have been scratched, bitten, kicked by a long time pet? Besides, the animal world has it criminal element-cf the fool who made "friends" with a group of grizzlies then one decided he would make a good dinner, perhaps a rug in the den.

Forest Gump's mama was right.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Darwin award!