Special Report: Predators as pets

You've heard the stories, exotic and dangerous animals on the loose. Where do these wild creatures come from? In many cases, they're living illegally in neighborhoods like yours.

This savage cougar...someone's pet in Maine.

Watch how he quickly turns from *affectionate* to a predator on *attack*.

Art Howell, A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center
"I know you want to rub up against me." "You're a good girl" cougar attacks wildlife rehabilitator and the rehabilitator fights him off

An aggressive bear...living in a western Massachusetts home for roughly a year.

Art Howell, A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center
"She broke this wrist."

This Maine conservation center

Art Howell, A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center
"In people's homes all 3 of them (coyotes)."

...is filled with wild and dangerous animals that once lived in neighborhoods like yours.

Art Howell, A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center
"They turn into real killers."

Owning these predators as pets is against the law in Massachusetts, but that's not the case in every state, and the Internet is making it easier to smuggle one in.

Just a simple click and there's hundreds of websites that will sell you a Noah’s ark of exotic pets.

A local college student used one of the sites to make an illegal purchase.

Tom French, Mass Wildlife
"We were very surprised not long ago to find that we had a bobcat living in a university dorm room in Boston."

To see how easy it is, we decided to give it a try.

Phil Lipof on the phone
"I'm looking to have this at my home in the greater Boston area."

My address set off no alarms, I quickly found owners willing to sell me a monkey and a zebra.

Phil Lipof on the phone
"I need to pick him up. So I need to get out there with the appropriate transportation to get him back."

Although cute, these pictures of monkey attacks show the scary side, and that zebra could easily turn on you as well.

Phil Lipof on the phone
"You would not pet him. Why does he bite? Oh they do bite."

Several owners we spoke with argue they should be allowed to keep these wild pets if they can take good care of them.

But this wildlife rehabilitator, who was attacked by a cougar, knows the dangers of making a predator your pet.

Although buying wild animals online illegally can be easy, officials say catching people that keep predators as pets is easy as well.

The punishment can be hefty fines or possibly jail time.

(Copyright (c) 2005 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) MS