May 11, 2012 Dexter, IA Officials are investigating a report that a child was scratched by a monkey at a day care center. The Capuchin monkey named Charlie is a kept as a “pet” at the daycare. Although the owners state that the primate has a good bill of health, the child was taken to the hospital to undergo rabies shots. Primates
May 10, 2012 Cleveland, SC Eight venomous snakes were found living in a home amongst 3-year old and 2-month old children. Investigators determined that the parents did not have the license, nor the proper housing, to possess the snakes which placed the children in danger. Arrest warrants were obtained for the unlawful neglect of a child and the parents were placed under arrest. They both face up to 20 years imprisonment if found guilty. Reptiles
May 9, 2012 Hyde Park, NY A 5-foot-6 Burmese Python was recovered from the parking lot a pizzaria in Hyde Park. Officials speculate the snake was dumped by its guardian. The python will be taken to the Bronx Zoo. Reptiles
May 8, 2012 St. Petersburg, FL A passer-by found a 3-foot ball python curled up near a corner in a neighborhood. Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation removed the snake. The snake had been injured. Reptiles
May 7, 2012 Bellevue, WA A woman was attacked by her boyfriend’s “pet” lynx. The lynx reportedly escaped from its cage and bit the woman while she was cleaning. Animal control took the animal and it is now in quarantine and they are looking into the incident as it is illegal to house a wild cat in most situations. Small Cats
May 7, 2012 Asheville, NC City animal control officers were called to a home after a monkey escaped and bit three neighbors while on the loose. When officers came to retrieve the monkey, they found marijuana, hash, mushrooms and ecstacy in the home and arrested Charles Bradley Winecoff. Winecoff was jailed briefly and released on bond. The monkey, a marmoset, will be euthanized to test for rabies. Primates
May 7, 2012 Chattanooga, TN Police catch a monkey named Molly that had been roaming around the neighborhood that had escaped from its guardian. McKamey Animal Center is waiting to release her pending proper paperwork. Primates
May 6, 2012 Omaha, NE A 27-year old silverback gorilla named Motuba was taken to a hospital for a broken jaw after a scuffle with another gorilla. Primates
May 4, 2012 Largo, FL Largo police detained a man and his monkey in a traffic stop. This is the same and monkey in the 4/5/2012 Pasco County incident where a man flagged down an officer to say that his monkey had run off when he stopped at a gas station. Officials had been looking for him for potential violation of wildlife possession laws. The man had a lengthy criminal history involving multiple arrests on DUI and driving with a suspended license. Officials also filed charges for failure to meet minimum caging requirements and failure to document a source of acquisition for wildlife. The monkey is being held in quarantine. Primates
May 4, 2012 Waterford, MI Police found an alligator and python while they were responding to a call about a domestic argument. They found the 2 and a half foot long gator splashing around in a plastic swimming pool in the basement and a python in a glass tank. Reptiles