CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico- Fred and Mindy Hoerter were starting a romantic honeymoon with a cruise on "The Love Boat," which takes young couples to a romantic private island for a two hour stint as the sole occupants. But before they got there a seagull smacked Cindy in the face, broke her nose, and ruined what was going to be a first for the nature loving couple. "We aren't what you'd call pure exhibitionists... but being outside and everything on your honeymoon... alone like that... well, we were really looking forward to it. Then that damn bird broke my face and I just wanted to go home."

COVENTRY, England- Police say a parrot not only attacked thieves who broke into a pet store, but also collected evidence that could help solve the case. When burglars busted into Hobday's Pet Shop a parrot named Jack got flapping mad. "When we got into work there was blood all over and Jack was perched on his cage squawking like mad," Caroline Hobday told the press. "All the evidence looks like he scared the thieves away and spent the rest of the night patrolling the shop." Thanks to Jack, the thieves left behind a blood trail from which investigators can obtain DNA evidence. Police also recovered scraps of fabric from Jack's beak that could help pinpoint the perps. Why would a parrot help its human owners? "Jack likes our shop and its benefits. He get's capitalism. Whenever he hears the cash register go off he let's out a scream and hops into his happy dance."

GRASS VALLEY, California- Is it possible that a bear can pick out a particular van, learn to defeat its security system and break in to steal food, while leaving all other vehicles in the parking lot alone? Larry Brown has lost his lunch to a DNR tagged bear, number 463, 26 times in the last four months. And in that time, no other car has even been touched by 463. "It's embarrassing because of the line of work I'm in but, hey, if a bear wants to get into your van, apparently it is going to get in. Maybe, I should stop leaving peanut butter and honey sandwiches in the van. It's crazy but I can't imagine lunch without 'em. Now, neither can 463."

WRANGLER GULCH, South Dakota- DEA officer, Dale Swinkert, was following a tip that drug runners had set up a marijuana patch in a remote part of the state. After arriving at the ranch the patch was supposedly on he told the owner "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher, Carl "Binky" Orloff told Swinkert "Okay , but do not go in that field over there," pointing to a pasture down the road. Swinkert later said he was in no mood to argue after his long, bone jarring ride to the location and should have listened. "I went into my standard, 'Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me,' spiel and showed him my badge and said, 'This badge allows me to go anywhere I want to, get it!?' So, Mr. Orloff just smiled and waved me on. Next thing I know I am being chased by the biggest damn bull I have ever seen and Mr. Orloff is shouting "Show him your badge, show him your badge." Next time I'll slow down and listen to what the property owner has to say." Agent Swinkert escaped with minor injuries.

COLUMBIA, Missouri- A flying fish forced a Texas kayaker ashore just short of crossing the finish line at an annual Missouri River endurance race. Brad Pennington was one of the favorites in the Missouri River 340, a canoe and kayak race in Kansas City, Kan. But a 30-pound Asian silver carp put an end to his dreams of winning when it jumped from the water and hit him in the head. "It felt like a brick hit me," Pennington said. Pennington said he had to withdraw because of a "pounding, pounding headache that kept getting worse. "It's definitely a risk being out on the river," said Tracy Hill, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's local fisheries office. "It's extremely serious. Those things can kill you." Hill and his colleagues already wear construction hard hats while on the job. He suggested, with a straight face, that an upgrade to hockey helmets and protective netting might be in order. Pennington joked with friends before the race that he might be attacked by a carp in retribution for his being an avid fisherman but now that it has happened he says it's not so funny. "My head isn't OK yet and being on water makes me sea sick, now. I guess those fish fixed me but good."

SAN ANSELMO, California- Police responded to a mountain lion sighting in the Raymond Avenue neighborhood about 10 p.m., Saturday. A man reported he saw the big cat on his street and watched as it disappeared up a fire trail. Police arrived but didn't see the animal, then walked door to door notifying residents on how to prevent deadly encounters with mountain lions--do not feed deer, because they attract lions; keep pets inside at night when cougars are most active; and bring pet food inside to avoid attracting lion prey. Police Sgt. Charles Billelo said "Anyone who encounters a mountain lion should not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms or other objects. If attacked, fight back. Don't try to negotiate or make friends. This animal is not a vegan and won't be impressed with your Whole Earth catalog philosophy. It just wants to eat you and go home."

SCOTLAND, Maryland- Willy Dean was on the Potomac River in a 22-foot skiff Tuesday morning when he realized there was something both abnormal and enormous in his net. It was a deadly 8-foot bull shark, a 300-pound killer swimming off the shores of Point Lookout State Park. "When I first seen it, it was like 'Jaws'. I said we need a bigger boat!" Dean said Thursday. "It looked huge. I didn't know how we were gonna get it out. I've been fishing here over 30 years, and it's the first time I've even seen one." But it wasn't the only one caught on the river during what has become Shark Week on the Potomac. Thomas Crowder, a commercial fisherman said he and his crew were cutting a net when an even bigger bull shark was trapped. "Willy gets one, and then all of the sudden we get one. It's just bizarre. Maybe they're terrorists on the way to attack Washington." Bull sharks, among the world's most dangerous fish for humans, ranking right up there with great whites and tiger sharks, are unique in that they can tolerate fresh river water.

NEW YORK, New York- Carol Aiello used to spot the intruders only at night, prowling her backyard or scurrying along her street in Queens. But last week she caught one of them staring at her from a neighbor’s gutter and she panicked. "It was nothing like what you see on TV or in children’s books," said Ms. Aiello. "That thing was big, it was ugly and it was scary." Raccoons are no longer a rarity in the city. They seem to be appearing in greater numbers and, like true New Yorkers, behaving much more boldly. New Yorkers are coming across them on stoops and rooftops, by bird feeders and garbage cans, on the edge of above-ground pools, even inside kitchen drawers. Councilman James Vacca said "Years ago, people thought this was cute. Well, it's not cute when a raccoon is scratching at your door at 2 in the morning." Last month, in Brooklyn, a raccoon suffocated to death after somehow finding its way inside a kitchen drawer. Two other raccoons tried to break into the same house, but couldn’t figure out how to get through a glass window. Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan of Queens said that seven raccoons sauntered among the guests at a Fourth of July street party in Ridgewood, mystifying children, terrifying parents and nearly ruining the celebration. Sherry Ortega, is too scared to let her sons swim at night. "To the raccoons our pool is the local watering hole. I call, ‘Hey!’ but they look at you like, ‘Are you talkin' to me?’ You yell, you spray them with water, you turn the lights on, but they’re not afraid." Some are not afraid, though. Brooklyn resident and NRA regional chairman Sid Micious added, "I can assure you there are enough legal gun owners in the area to take care of this problem. But the city has to make it legal for us to bear arms against this threat."

CHICAGO, Illinois- A 4 foot American Alligator in the Chicago River is the second to be sighted in the area this month. Police wouldn't confirm whether the alligator had been living beneath the city's streets, but witnesses said the gator climbed out of the sewer, giving legs to a long standing urban legend. Meanwhile, residents of Chicago, a city known more for its icy winds than its wetlands, have spotted at least two different alligators on the Chicago River this summer. Police captured an alligator on the city's North Side and days later boaters spotted another gator basking in the sun on the riverside. Although alligators aren't accustomed to living in northern metropolises, that doesn't mean a gator couldn't survive if it found the right conditions. "If they can find entry to a basement or camp our near an exhaust vent for a laundromat they can get through the winter. And they will be hungry. Guard your dogs and cats," said zoologist Billy Ellis.

BOGOTA, Columbia- Gespacho Tommasso has trained a crocodile named Giganto to interact with humans in a friendly way. "Giganto loves people. He can be fed by hand... tourists love doing that. Makes for great pictures. And if you are a good swimmer, you can go in and wrestle Giganto. Bring the video camera. This is a vacation you are going to want to remember and show your friends."