After Fatal Bear Attack, Questions About Private Menageries

Aug. 21, 2010— -- Police in northern Ohio are investigating the third fatal bear attack in the United States this year. But unlike the first two, this death wasn't in the wild, but at a private menagerie that also houses tigers and wolves.

Such places, known as backyard menageries, where wild animals are kept as family pets or for profit, are a lot more common than you might think. There are hundreds of them across the country.

"There is captive wildlife all over the U.S," says Casey Anderson, a naturalist often featured on the National Geographic Channel. "And I venture to guess that the majority of them out there are pretty shady and not meeting regulations."

Two days ago, tragedy struck at one such menagerie: World Animal Studios, southwest of Cleveland.

Owner Sam Mazzola called 911 Thursday night, after one of his employees, 24-year-old Brent Kendra, was mauled while helping feed a 400-pound black bear.

But it was too late. Kendra died the next morning at the hospital.

This morning, with one of his bears on display, Sam Mazzola absolved himself of any responsibility on "Good Morning America."

"This was his choice," Mazzola said. "If we get injured, it's no different than an airline pilot getting injured."

Kandra loved playing with the bear, who was outside of his cage when the attack happened, Mazzola said.

"The particular bear was his favorite bear. It was one that he basically raised," he said. "Every time he was around him, that was the first bear he ran up to and said hi to, and I mean they knew each other very well.

"They were just playing with each other, the food was already there," Mazzola said. "I mean the bear wasn't even interested. He was interested in playing with Brent. And when it was just time to, for him to leave, the bear didn't want him to go and just grabbed him."