Washington state woman calls 911 after being hounded by up to 100 raccoons

Sheriff's deputies in Washington's Kitsap County frequently get calls about animals — loose livestock, problem dogs. But the 911 call they received recently from a woman being hounded by dozens of raccoons swarming her home near Poulsbo stood out. The woman reported having had to...

How Waffle House helps Southerners — and FEMA — judge a storm's severity

Golden hashbrowns, gravy-smothered biscuits and crispy waffles with a hearty helping of maple syrup are among the classic Southern comfort foods. But when hurricanes tear through Southeastern towns, the hot meals and bold yellow signs of the local Waffle House provide another kind of comfort. ...

PHOTO COLLECTION: Spain Catalonia Human Tower

Former owner of water buffalo that roamed Iowa suburb for days pleads guilty

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The owner of a water buffalo that ran loose in a Des Moines, Iowa, suburb for days pleaded guilty for having an animal at large. The owner was fined $105 and court costs Thursday, the Des Moines Register reported. The owner was taking the...

Nibi the 'diva' beaver to stay at rescue center, Massachusetts governor decides

BOSTON (AP) — The question of whether a 2-year-old beaver named Nibi can stay with the rescuers she has known since she was a baby or must be released into the wild was resolved Thursday when the Massachusetts governor stepped in to protect Nibi. The state issued a permit to...

There's a moose on the loose — in a New Hampshire swimming pool

BEDFORD, N.H. (AP) — Police and firefighters in New Hampshire responded to an unusual call Thursday morning — a moose was trapped in a backyard swimming pool. A video shot by police shows rescuers removing a pool covering after arriving at the home at about 8:45 a.m. to reveal...

Nibi the beaver's fate lands in court as rescuers try to stop her release into the wild

Whether a 2-year-old beaver named Nibi gets to stay with the rescuers she has known since she was a baby or must be released into the wild as winter approaches in Massachusetts has ended up in court — and caused such an uproar that even the governor has weighed in. “To literally...

After 31 years, a French treasure hunt may have a winner. The prize: a valuable golden owl

PARIS (AP) — A 31-year-long treasure hunt that drew in thousands of enthusiasts across France appeared to have come to an end Thursday, after official social media accounts linked to the search said the token needed to claim the grand prize had been found. The hunt, “On the...

Spider lovers scurry to Colorado town in search of mating tarantulas and community

LA JUNTA, Colo. (AP) — Love is in the air on the Colorado plains — the kind that makes your heart beat a bit faster, quickens your step and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It's tarantula mating season, when male spiders scurry out of their burrows in search of a...

Online voting in Alaska's Fat Bear Week contest starts after an attack killed 1 contestant

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Let the chunk-off begin. Voting started Wednesday in the annual Fat Bear Week contest at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, with viewers picking their favorite among a dozen brown bears fattened up to survive the winter. The...