SONOMA, California- Hot air balloon ride company, Elevated Exteriors, has been in business for 34 years. In that time owner Janet Cromley has seen many unplanned things happen but never a circling flock of persistent swans forcing a balloon to radically change course and then knock over a row of porta-potties. And to make matters worse every one of the porta-potties was occupied and some of the occupants who were injured either physically or emotionally are suing. "There's lots of things we worry about in this business but that was not one. I hope they withdraw their lawsuits but after seeing them come out of those porta-potties sideways I can understand why they were upset," said Cromley.

NORTH SWINDON, England- Numerous residents filed reports with the local police after discovering the brake cables in their cars had been severed by an unknown assailant. After detective work it was discovered instead of a roving gang of human hooligans, the vandals were in fact a band of squirrels with a taste for car parts. An off duty police-officer solved the mystery after noticing tiny teeth marks on his cruiser's recently severed brake cable. To prevent a community backlash against squirrels, police issued a statement telling folks to not take the law into their own hands but did post several squirrel recipes on their website.

BIG PINE KEY, Florida- A marine mystery unfolded in the Florida Keys when something leapt from the water, punctured the lung of a woman in a kayak and returned to the ocean. Karri Larsonwas was rushed to the hospital, where she was listed in serious but stable condition. "It sounds like a houndfish," said Jason Schratwieser, of the International Game Fish Association. "Those things will jump out and impale people." The kayakers were on a "nice Sunday kayak ride," when they saw "a big fish skipping across the water," near them, then turn their way and zoom in for the kill. "It did it on purpose. I saw the look in its eyes. That fish wanted me out of the ocean," said the wheezing kayaker.

CINGINO ALPINO, Italy- Alpine Ibex goats are native to the Alps and known for their awesome climbing abilities. Although they are usually found on rocky mountain slopes 15,000 above sea-level, clearly, they have no problem navigating man-made structures, too. A herd of Ibex goats is now right at home on the near-sheer face of Cingino Dam in northern Italy. It's suggested the animals may be licking the stones for salt and minerals, while others believe the goats are simply practicing their climbing skills on the 160 foot stone wall, but at least one man worries what the goats might do to the electrical grid if they reach the top. "If they are goofy enough to climb this dam just to lick the damn rocks why wouldn't they want to take out the grid just for kicks," said Dino Scapazzi, head of Cingino maintenance.

BIMINI, Florida- When a barracuda got off the hook inside Ed Crane's boat it chewed up his daughter Stephanie before being subdued with an oar. And once at the hospital Stephanie needed 45 stitches to close her wounds. But Dad didn't leave for the hospital until after taking some dockside photos with his prize catch. "I guess I won't win any Father of the Year awards. It was kind of dumb, but Steph' seemed fine and that' cuda was such a great catch... it was huge. Then at the hospital I heard it was 45 stitches... yeah, we should have left right away. Can't wait to get home to hear what the wife says. This should be fun."

REPUBLIC OF CONGO-A plane crash that killed 20 is being blamed on a crocodile. The lone survivor told investigators a hidden crocodile escaped from a passenger's sports bag and caused a stampede in the cabin, throwing the small plane off balance. The crocodile lived through the crash, only to be killed by a blow from a machete. The plane was on a routine flight from the capital, Kinshasa, to the regional airport in Bandundu, when the incident occurred. The survivor is quoted in an inquiry report, saying the crocodile escaped as the plane began its descent. With the creature on the lose, panic ensued. "The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers," recounted the survivor. With the plane suddenly off-balance, it went out of control and crashed into a house a few hundred feet from the airport. When emergency crew members approached the wreckage the crocodile slithered out and was dispatched. "There are lots of reasons to prohibit international trade of exotic species, and what happens when a croc gets loose on a plane is just another one," said Mott Abel, head of the International Exotic Species Protection Organization.

MOSCOW, Russia- A police officer had to dive for cover when a pack of wild wolves started chasing him on an urban freeway. The shocked officer had just pulled over a motorist on the highway, then suddenly, spotted a pack of maurauding wolves behind him and had to jump into the car he had just stopped. The officer had to stay inside until the 10-strong pack of wolves decided to leave, during which time he opted to not give the driver a ticket. Wolves have been in the news in Russia including an attack in which wolves charged shoppers in a Moscow supermarket parking lot, then scavenging grocery bags dropped by the scared city dwellers. The grey wolves appear to have overcome any fear of humans in their search for food. Some older Moscovites believe they might also be communists because they all did equal work in the attacks.

PORT ANGELES, Washington- Rangers in Washington say a mountain goat killed a 63-year-old hiker in Olympic National Park. Robert H. Boardman was hiking with his wife Susan and their friend Pat Willits, and after stopping for lunch at an overlook the goat appeared, moved toward them and began acting aggressively. Boardman tried shooing him away but the goat attacked him, goring him in the thigh. The animal then hovered over Boardman as he lay bleeding, not allowing anyone to help the injured hiker. A park ranger finally chased the animal away, pelting it with rocks. If found the animal will be held responsible or killed according to officials. Before he was gored, Boardman joked the goat must be angry because the panini sandwich he was eating had goat cheese on it.

DENVER, Colorado- Denver International Airport has a problem with rabbits that eat cars. Dexter Meyer told KUSA-TV after he parked his brand new Volkswagen Jetta at the airport it was eaten. When he got back nine days later, he says, "I turned on the ignition and all these lights started flashing. I took the car to the dealership and they said my wiring had been munched." The service manager asked him if the car had been at the airport and told him "We've had a significant number of problems with rabbits eating through wiring out there," Meyer says. "Why would rabbits want to eat my wiring? Get more minerals in their diet? Good thing they didn't go after my brakes."

HAYLEY, Idaho- If deer and elk were knocking down your garden fences and eating your tomatoes you might be pushed to come up with novel ways to fight back. But would you think to trick the antlered freeloaders into not seeing you as a threat because you're sitting in a hot tub, drinking a beer? You would if you were Rudolf Reber. "When they saw me go running into the house for my gun they knew to get out of there. They even knew to watch for me looking out the windows and if the back door opened they took off. But if I'm sitting in the hot tub, they don't do anything. I've popped quite a few of 'em from here and they still come around. So, I'm in the tub a lot, till all the tomatoes come in."