Knife Wielding Raptor Adds Steel to Talons
EKTAPOODEM, Sweden- As if gigantic golden eagles aren't menacing enough, at least one is carrying a knife. A butterfingered wildlife photographer in Sweden had been cutting meat to lure the birds in when he dropped the blade in the snow. The eagle in the photo took advantage of the fumble. "At least, I was happy with the unique picture," Dutch photographer Han Bouwmeester told the U.K.'s Daily Mail. "The eagle is holding it exactly as we [do]. What a crazy, once-in-a-lifetime moment this was." But Rolf Stockhausen, naturalist at a nearby raptor center, said "Let's sure hope the eagle doesn't learn how to use that knife like we do, as in, killing stuff it wants to kill."
Such Compassion...
TANGENKITTA, Namibia- But the cheetahs did not eat the gazelle. Instead, they seemed to want to make friends. One by one the cheetahs showed familial affection to this infant from another species.
If Humans Could Only Be This Understanding
TANGENKITTA, Namibia- Sadly, on the way back after a long day in the savanna the photographers were treated to the now hungry cheetahs deciding Bambi was nice to have as a friend, but better to have as lunch. “I guess that’s nature’s way, this is how they eat, and we love the big cats... but why Bambi?"
"Tame" Cheetahs Ruin Vacation
DATTSABHUTTI, Kenya- Deter and Petra Heinieschlappa saved up for years in the hopes of one day getting to Africa to see the big cats. And on their first day of vacation, two supposedly tame and pet-able cheetahs at the Where the Not So Wild Things Are Animal Center, pounced on Petra and held her down, for 48 horrible minutes. It wasn't until trainers brought in a female cheetah in heat, that the two males would back away from Petra. "I will never get inside a fence with a big animal again," said a still recovering Heiniesclappa.
Deer Takes Bath, Ruins Bathroom
AUBURN, Indiana- "This is crazy," Chris Coleman exclaimed. An adult deer, jumped through Coleman's window in her front door, went straight into her bathroom, closed the door and jumped into the bathtub. Three officers entered the residence, and said when they opened the bathroom door, the deer was laying in the tub, filled with water. Only the deer’s head was visible. The officers got the deer out but the bathroom was a mess. "It’s absolutely crazy," she said. "Couldn't the damn thing rinse off in a river, instead of screwing up my bathroom? I had bridge club coming over and my bathroom had deer hair all over the place."
So Sweet...
TANGENKITTA, Namibia- At first it seemed like a Disney moment for photo safari vacationers, Trevor Handel-Horn and Martin Dabner-Selmer. Three cheetahs approached a lost baby gazelle and it looked like any photos the vacationers shot would include blood.
A Lesson For All of Us
TANGENKITTA, Namibia- Everyone on the tour bus thought it was the most life reaffirming, heart warming thing they had ever seen. The charmed vacationers even named the baby gazelle Bambi, and the cheetahs, Manny, Moe and Jack.
Until Lunch, Then “Oh, Gross”
TANGENKITTA, Namibia- "It was just so tough to see those little legs chewed on like that. Really ruined the whole thing for me. Wish we’d never left London,” said a deflated Handel-Horn.
Chimps Raising Human Hating Tigers
COLUMBUS, Ohio- The world famous Columbus Zoo has gone ahead with a controversial program allowing chimpanzees to nurse and raise tigers. But some zoologists and biologists have worried about the dangers of primates raising animals that can kill man with one swipe of its paw. "Listen, chimps are cute and everything but they can turn on you, just like that," said Archie Johnson, Phd., from the Ohio State University Veterinary School. "I've seen it, too many times. These tigers are getting sustenance from infancy from the chimps, so that is a powerful relationship. If the chimps decide a trainer is someone they don't like, who knows what they might tell the tiger to do." Johnson made his comments at a Zoo fund raising event and has been place on administrative leave.
Governor Sides With Birds, Fights Bears

MONTPELIER, Vermont- Vermont governor Peter Shumlin had a close encounter with four bears in his backyard who were first attacking his bird feeders and then him. Shumlin noticed the bears going after his feeders and took action. “I open the window and yell at them but they blow me off so I figure I’ve got to get the birdfeeders out of there or they’re going to make this a habit." That's when the governor rushed out and grabbed two of his feeders, and as he was trying to escape “one of the bigger bears was interested in me.” Shumlin said the bear was probably six feet from him when he got through the back door and slammed it shut. While Shumlin captured much of the event on his iPhone, according to him much of it wasn’t suitable for media outlets. “I sleep like many Vermont boys, I’m not a big pajama person. The bottom line is-the bears were dressed better than I." Why not bring pants or a gun to an encounter with four bears? "I'm from Vermont," said the governor.