Animals enrich our lives, from pets to zoo wildlife. While encounters can be unfortunate, some are so bizarre they go viral. From rampaging seagulls to sushi-stealing penguins, here are the funniest recent news stories.
10. Man Bites Snake
Being bitten by a snake is not particularly unusual. However, one Indian man didn’t quite follow typical first aid procedures and exacted a bizarre revenge on the rat snake which bit him one Sunday afternoon in July 2019. When his quiet drink was interrupted by an unexpected snakebite, the victim bit back. He literally grabbed the snake and chewed it to pieces.
Hospital staff were astounded when the man’s family brought not only the snakebite victim but also the remains of the chewed-up snake. Fortunately, the snake involved was not considered venomous.
9. Disorderly Seabirds
Seagulls are notorious in seaside towns, scavenging food from tourists and leaving droppings everywhere. A simple picnic can quickly turn chaotic as flocks descend, often resulting in unwanted mess from above.
Now, towns in Southern England face an unusual problem: drunken seagulls. The birds have developed a taste for alcohol from leftover drinks at pubs, breweries, and beaches. Intoxicated, they stagger along the shore and even vomit on passersby. Wildlife rescuers report the gulls "stink of alcohol" and are taken to nearby sanctuaries for care.
8. Chihuahua Snatched By Seagull
When they aren’t scavenging food from seaside picnickers, seagulls are generally predators, dining on crabs and small fish within close proximity of their rookeries. The seemingly fearless birds have even been known to attack passing whales, diving for a bite of live whale meat.
In July 2019, a family from Devon was distraught when a swooping seagull carried off their pet. Gizmo the Chihauhua was watching his owner hang out the laundry in the backyard when a seagull suddenly descended and carried off the small dog. Despite hopes that their pet may have been dropped when the gull realized it had snatched a dog, Gizmo has not been located. Wildlife officers confirmed that this was bizarre behavior, even for seagulls.
7. Sushi-Stealing Penguins
6. Australian Steer Reporting For ‘Bale’
In June 2019, a police station in Batemans Bay on Australia’s east coast was forced into lockdown after a Belted Galloway steer escaped from a livestock trailer. The animal ran loose along a busy street before barging through the police station door, startling local officers who are unaccustomed to cattle in the town center.
Humorous reports described the steer receiving a “Moooooooove-on direction” and looking for “bale.” Livestock officers eventually captured the runaway and returned it to its owner, concluding the unusual incident.
5. Alligator In Florida Pool
Living near waterways with dangerous reptiles like alligators means staying alert to risks. Yet a backyard pool should still be a safe place to cool off—but not for one Florida family in August 2019. They discovered an alligator had settled into their pool overnight.
When Wendy Langley heard splashing at night, she turned on the lights and was shocked to see an alligator swimming there. Worried about her small children and dog, she launched a late-night rescue to remove it. Local authorities spent hours safely trapping the reptile and relocating it to a more suitable habitat.
4. ‘Drop Bear’
Wandering wildlife are a known road hazard. Around the world, deer, elk, kangaroos, livestock, and more are frequent causes of accidents when they wander onto busy highways. But bears? In August 2019, a California police car was reduced to burned-out wreckage after being hit by a surprise falling bear.
A sheriff’s deputy was driving along State Route 96 when a bear suddenly landed on the vehicle’s hood, smashing the windshield. The impact caused the vehicle to roll onto an embankment, bursting into flames. The driver miraculously escaped injury in the bizarre encounter, and the bear decamped from the scene before emergency crews arrived. It isn’t known whether the bear simply fell on the car from the nearby steep embankment or jumped onto it.
3. A Silent Travel Companion
Many of us enjoy traveling with our dogs. Be it a short trip to the shops or a long road trip, our canine friends make excellent travel companions. It is always sad when we inevitably have to say goodbye. Not so for one Oregon dog owner, however.
When his loyal Jack Russell Terrier, Phoebe, died in 2013, Mitch Byer had her stuffed so that she could continue to be an everyday part of his life. He even continues to take her on road trips. However, he has run into issues involving people concerned about the dog left in his car. This has happened frequently enough that Mitch now places a sign in his window that reads, “Don’t worry, the dog is already dead. She’s taxidermied. Please don’t break my window.” Phoebe even has her own social media accounts, which have attracted a following.
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