Last November, a 24-year-old Montana animal trainer was killed while cleaning the pens of two Syrian brown bears. Benjamin Cloutier, a trainer for Animals of Montana near Bozeman, was mauled to death while cleaning their pens. Official reports indicate that the mauling could have been avoided had proper safety practices been followed. The bears-Griz and Yosemite- were both present in the cage when Cloutier was mauled, with Grizz having been shot at the scene by Demetri Price, the company's head trainer, shortly after the incident. Montana wildlife officials also requested the other bear be killed as well, but the company refused on the grounds Yosemite was a possible "bystander' during the attack as the bear did not have any blood on it.
Since the mauling, state investigation has tuned up numerous incidents of animal escapes from the company that were not reported as required by the company's roadside menagerie permit. Some of these escapes include a black panther, a pair of breeding lions, and a wolf pup. Another injury report in 2004 from Animals of Montana, which was originally called a "scratch" was revealed to have been a scalp laceration by a mountain lion to a worker's skull. Because some of these unreported incidents happened almost a decade ago, not much can be done about them now but if any new incidents were to occur in the future the company risks losing its permit, according to Andrea Jones with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The company has responded to the accusations by rejecting the assertion that Cloutier's death was preventable. Owner Troy Hyde also noted that putting trainers inside the cages of predatory animals was "absolutely something we must do." The company's official opinion is that Cloutier mush have fallen and been unconscious before the mauling as there was no defensive wounds such as bite marks on hands to indicate he fought back. Yet investigations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administrating has found no evidence of a fall. Also, the company has made no comment on the surfacing reports of past injuries and escapes.
Adam Roberts, vice president of Born Free USA, an organization that tracks incidents like this remarked that it is not unusual for captive animals to turn on handlers,
"So often we're derided as naysayers, but every time an incident like this happens it just shows how inappropriate wild animals are in captivity."
The Department of Labor has proposed a $9,000 fine on Animals of Montana for workplace safety violations. Jeff Funke, area director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has commented that the proposed fine, although relatively small, was the maximum penalty in this case as the company employs 25 or fewer people. As Park County officials concluded that Cloutier's death was accidental, no criminal charges were pursued.
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