Tag: Wild Nature

Toddler flees in terror as coyote chases him outside California family home in broad daylight

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A toddler had a heart-stopping brush with a coyote right outside his Pasadena, California, home on Monday, according to surveillance footage that captured the frightening moment.

In the video, the 3-year-old boy ran out onto the driveway before abruptly freezing in his tracks. He then turned around in panic, fleeing at full speed while letting out a terrified shriek.

Moments later, the coyote appeared on camera, trailing closely behind the boy. As the animal moved through the family’s front yard and past the camera, a much louder scream — appearing to come from an adult — rang out.

According to local outlet KABC-TV, the boy’s mother was right behind him when the harrowing run-in unfolded.

A child runs away after encountering a coyote in front of his home. (Leonard Bessemer via Storyful)

“Sal went out the gate like he always does before me,” Aida Svelto told the outlet, referring to her son. “Then I heard a scream, and Sal came running back. He grabbed onto my legs, then I screamed because I saw a big, giant coyote.”

After the scream, the coyote reappeared on camera, retreating back the way it had come.

Salvo was reportedly left unscathed, despite the close call.

RUNNER FOUGHT OFF MOUNTAIN LION WITH STICK JUST WEEKS BEFORE FATAL ATTACK ON SAME COLORADO TRAIL

A child runs from a coyote in Pasadena, California.

Coyotes are not uncommon in the hilly neighborhood of South California, but the mother said she had never experienced one intentionally crossing into her property.

“We have seen them, but they typically just stay on the street,” Svelto told KABC-TV. “I really didn’t feel nervous. Now I’m nervous.”

“This one was bigger and scarier, and I just really didn’t think that he would go after a kid,” she added. “It’s one thing to see them go after a chihuahua or rabbit or whatever, but he’s pretty big, so it was scary.”

A coyote follows a 3-year-old boy running back to his house in Pasadena, California. (Leonard Bessemer via Storyful)

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Experts say animals are especially active and inquisitive during this time of year, as mating season drives them to search for mates and additional food sources.

While coyotes are native to California and play a valuable role in controlling rodent populations and cleaning up animal carcasses, they are also known to sometimes target small pets and, in rare instances, humans.

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Bonny Chu is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital.

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February 25, 2026
Ancient man survived brutal lion attack, suffered lifelong damage: ‘Extremely rare’

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Archaeologists recently uncovered the remains of a young man who lived 6,000 years ago — and survived a brutal encounter with a lion.

A study published in the February 2026 edition of the peer-reviewed Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports focuses on a Late Eneolithic necropolis in the Thracian region of eastern Bulgaria.

The subject of the study is the skeleton of a man who died between the ages of 18 and 30. He was more than 5 feet 7 inches tall and lived between 4600 and 4200 B.C., during the Late Eneolithic.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH CHILLING 16TH-CENTURY GALLOWS WHERE REBELS WERE HANGED AND DISPLAYED

The grave is near another archaeological site called Kozareva Mogila, or the Goat Mound, near the coast of the Black Sea.

Upon analyzing the skeleton, researchers identified severe cranial and limb injuries — including puncture wounds on the man’s skull.

Archaeologists studying a Late Eneolithic burial in eastern Bulgaria uncovered skeletal evidence of a prehistoric lion attack that a young man survived thousands of years ago. (iStock; Veselin Danov)

Those wounds suggest an attack by a large carnivore — and interestingly, the wounds appeared to have healed, meaning he survived the encounter.

The study authors said the injury occurred during adolescence, possibly between the ages of 10 and 18.

Nadezhda Karastoyanova, a paleontologist at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, told Fox News Digital that lions were present in eastern Bulgaria during the Late Eneolithic period.

LONG-LOST ANCIENT VILLAGE WITH MYSTERIOUS PAST UNEARTHED AMID WIND FARM DIG: ‘EXCITING DISCOVERY’

Karastoyanova headed the zooarchaeological analysis — and credited her colleagues Veselin Danov, Petya Petrova and Viktoria Ruseva with documenting, interpreting and analyzing the skeleton, respectively.

“There is direct archaeological evidence for interactions between humans and lions,” said Karastoyanova. “More than 15 lion remains have been identified at prehistoric sites across Bulgaria, some bearing cut marks that indicate hunting and dismemberment.”

“These injuries would have made independent survival impossible [and] strongly suggest prolonged care and support from the surrounding community.”

She added, “The highest concentration of lion remains comes from sites along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, such as Durankulak and the Sozopol area. Where this individual was buried lies within the same broader region, making encounters between humans and large predators a realistic possibility.”

She observed that such skeletal evidence of prehistoric animal attacks on humans is “extremely rare.”

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“In this case, the skeletal trauma not only survived in the archaeological record but also shows clear signs of healing, indicating long-term survival,” she said.

The cranial injuries “likely caused neurological consequences,” she added, possibly including epileptic seizures.

Researchers say puncture wounds found on a young man’s skull indicate an encounter with a large carnivore during Bulgaria’s Late Eneolithic period. (Veselin Danov)

“Combined with other impairments, these injuries would have made independent survival impossible [and] strongly suggest prolonged care and support from the surrounding community.”

Karastoyanova was struck by the fact that the man survived for months after the attack — which she said “provides rare insight into resilience and social caregiving in Eneolithic societies.”

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Interestingly, Karastoyanova noted that the man’s grave is among the poorest in the necropolis, with no grave goods.

“This contrasts sharply with the nearby Varna Eneolithic Necropolis, dating to the same period, which contains some of the world’s earliest and richest gold burials,” she said.

The necropolis was discovered in the Thracian region of eastern Bulgaria, which is seen here. (iStock)

“This juxtaposition highlights the strong social diversity of Eneolithic societies, where wealth inequality coexisted with evidence for care and support of vulnerable individuals.”

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Archaeological evidence of lion-inflicted injuries is rare, but not without precedent.

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Last spring, excavators found that a skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York, England, bore signs of a lion wound.

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January 12, 2026
Large Burmese python on video getting pulled from Florida neighborhood tree: ‘It was pretty dangerous’

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It was one Christmas visitor that didn’t overstay its welcome.

A Burmese python that had been spotted in a Miami-Dade neighborhood was removed just days before Christmas after a resident out for a walk located the snake hiding inside an areca palm next to a home and contacted a local snake wrangler.

The snake’s removal came after neighbors grew increasingly concerned about its proximity to homes, pets and children as the holidays approached.

Video from the scene captured stunned reactions from nearby residents as the python was pulled from the palm tree.

“Oh gosh, oh my gosh,” an unidentified woman can be heard gasping as the snake emerged.

FLORIDA WOMAN WINS ANNUAL PYTHON CHALLENGE WITH RECORD SNAKE HAUL

Humane Iguana Control pulls a Burmese python from an areca palm in a Florida neighborhood. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)

Michael Ronquillo of Humane Iguana Control identified the snake on camera as a Burmese python and explained how it likely made its way into the residential area.

“So this is a Burmese python that was invading this neighborhood. It most likely came by one of the local canals. So we’re happy we were able to catch him,” Ronquillo said.

While residents appeared alarmed by the snake’s size, Ronquillo remained calm as he handled it.

“Yeah, I thought it would be bigger,” he said while wrangling the reptile.

Ronquillo said the python’s location made the situation especially dangerous because it was concealed deep inside an areca palm that sat directly next to a home.

“It was so deep into this areca palm that it could easily snatch someone’s pet or attack a human. Luckily a neighbor walking kept an eye on it to see where it hid,” Ronquillo said.

REPTILE HUNTER CLIMBS INTO APARTMENT BUILDING DUMPSTER TO REMOVE 16-FOOT PYTHON IN LOS ANGELES

A Burmese python is seen hiding beneath an areca palm in a Miami-Dade neighborhood in Florida before it was removed. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)

“The areca palm was actually right next to the house, so it was pretty dangerous,” he added.

The python measured “roughly 6½ feet long and weighed about 30 pounds,” according to Ronquillo.

Residents were particularly worried about the potential danger to their families if the snake remained in the neighborhood.

“Since it’s not a very common occurrence, they were pretty shocked to see such a large snake in their neighborhood. They were mostly worried about pets and small children,” Ronquillo said. “They were also worried if it were to lay eggs it could have been much worse.”

Ronquillo explained that removing the snake was risky because of its position inside the palm.

“The position where I was hiding it was pretty dangerous since it was hard to determine where the head was with so many palm stocks that the areca has,” he said.

Michael Ronquillo poses with a Burmese python after it was removed from a Florida neighborhood. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)

Despite the danger, Ronquillo said experience makes a difference.

“Doing iguana removal and python removals regularly, you just get used to handling them. It’s a thrill for us,” he said.

If the python had remained in the area, Ronquillo said it could have posed a serious threat to pets and wildlife.

“It would begin to consume cats and native animals such as possums and raccoons,” he said.

Ronquillo said python sightings in urban areas are becoming more common.

“It’s becoming to be pretty common, there’s been at least one to two removals every month in urban areas,” he said. “Roughly five months ago, we had removed another python in Doral which was causing panic as well.”

He warned residents not to attempt to handle a python on their own.

Michael Ronquillo of Humane Iguana Control holds a Burmese python after it was removed from a Miami-Dade neighborhood in Florida. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)

“They have roughly 100 very sharp teeth oriented backwards [to] lock their prey,” Ronquillo said. “Getting [a] bite can be difficult to remove or deadly if the python is very big,” he added.

If residents spot a python, Ronquillo said they should avoid interfering.

“They should keep an eye on it and not harass it so it doesn’t scurry off,” he said. “And again [do] not attempt to capture if you don’t have the experience.”

Ronquillo said trained professionals are best equipped to handle invasive snakes safely.

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“Trained python removal companies like ourselves have the knowledge and expertise to get the job done correctly and safely,” he said.

“Being an invasive species, it’s also important to euthanize it humanely, as it states on FWC [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] website,” he added.

Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.

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December 20, 2025
Teachers called ‘true heroes’ after repelling grizzly bear that attacked school group, injuring 11

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Teachers fended off a grizzly bear that attacked a school group walking along a trail in British Columbia, Canada, on Thursday, officials said.

“The group had stopped along a trail near the community when a grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked,” Insp. Kevin Van Damme of British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service, said in an update on social media. “Teachers successfully repelled the bear using pepper spray and a bear banger.”

Eleven people were injured in the attack, including students in the fourth and fifth grade, according to CBC News.

Two were in critical condition, two in serious condition and the other seven were treated at the scene, the British Columbia Health Services said.

STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS AMERICANS IN JAPAN AS DEADLY BEAR ATTACKS KILL 13 PEOPLE SINCE APRIL: ‘BE DILIGENT’

British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service said the grizzly emerged from the woods and “attacked.” (Matthew Bailey/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The incident happened in Bella Coola, a town more than 400 miles north of Vancouver.

The victims were taken to Bella Coola Hospital and were being transferred to Vancouver for further care, Van Damme said.

Officials were still searching for the bear as of Friday, who they believe may have been previously injured.

HIKER’S FRIEND WATCHES IN HORROR AS BROWN BEAR DRAGS MAN INTO BUSHES ON MOUNTAIN: REPORT

“We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues. We thank them for their collaborative efforts to ensure community awareness and shared safety information,” Van Damme said. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery.”

Bella Coola is more than 400 miles north of Vancouver in British Columbia. (Google Maps)

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Tamara Davidson, British Columbia’s Minister of Environment and Parks, called the teachers who fought off the bear “true heroes,” adding that they were well-prepared, according to the Guardian.

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November 22, 2025
North Carolina driver says bald eagle dropped cat through her windshield: ‘You may not believe me’

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A driver in North Carolina told a dispatcher that a cat carcass crashed into her windshield along a highway after the feline was dropped from the sky by a bald eagle.

The woman called 911 on Wednesday morning to report the incident, saying that a bald eagle dropped the cat into the passenger side of her front windshield on U.S. Route 74 in Swain County, near Bryson City, which is located about 65 miles southwest of Asheville.

It is unclear if the cat slipped from the eagle’s talons or was dropped intentionally.

“You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield,” the driver said on the 911 call. “It absolutely shattered my windshield.”

FLORIDA WOMAN WRESTLES ALLIGATOR TO RESCUE PUPPY IT DRAGGED INTO CREEK

A smashed windshield after a cat carcass crashed into the car along a highway near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (AP)

The dispatcher calmly responded, “Okay. I do believe you, honestly,” before laughing.

The driver said another person also observed the cat dropping from the sky.

“He’s like, ‘That is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.’ I’m like, ‘Really?’” the driver said.

The dispatcher replied, “Oh my goodness. Let’s see. I’ve heard crazier.”

“Well, that’s terrifying,” the caller responded, prompting more nervous laughter from the dispatcher.

After receiving the driver’s location, the dispatcher said she would send the Highway Patrol to conduct a report.

It is unclear if the cat slipped from the eagle’s talons or was dropped intentionally. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

“Another question. Is the cat still alive?” the dispatcher asked.

The cat was not alive, and the caller said the cat was on the side of the road rather than inside her vehicle.

“Okay, I have to ask just to make sure,” the dispatcher said.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Kendrick Weeks said the cat could have been roadkill grabbed by the eagle.

“But they can take animals the size of a cat,” he said. “It is much harder for them to take a live cat than a dead cat. They usually don’t prey on something they don’t find palatable. And, scavenging is a common behavior in bald eagles.”

SOFI STADIUM HAWK STOLEN DURING RAMS GAME LOCATED, SECOND HAWK REMAINS MISSING

“I do believe you, honestly,” the dispatcher told the driver. ((Photo by: Valerio Ferraro/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images))

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Weeks said eagles and other raptors can drop prey for several reasons, including due to a poor grip or if the prey is biting or otherwise struggling and the birds are wanting to prevent injury to themselves.

Prey can also be dropped if a raptor is being harassed by another bird or if the prey becomes too heavy to carry.

Some raptors may also drop prey to kill it, but that tactic is uncommon for bald eagles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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November 22, 2025
Owl caught on camera stealing hat from runner near Woodinville, WA

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Watch: Woodinville owl steals hat from runner on Paradise Valley Trail

An owl, likely a Barred Owl, has been aggressively swooping at visitors on the Paradise Valley Conservation Area trails near Woodinville, with one runner capturing video of the bird snatching his cap off his head. This was not the runner’s first encounter; his previous run-in sent him to urgent care, prompting Snohomish County Parks to post warning signs.

WOODINVILLE, Wash. – You may get a hoot out of this story.

An owl in Woodinville has been swooping at unsuspecting visitors on the Paradise Valley Conservation area trails. One local resident says he captured video of one of the prime suspects in the act.

What they’re saying:

When Nathan Kuchta goes running on the Paradise Valley Conservation Trail, he often wears a cap.

“This is the only running hat I have,” said Kuchta.

To a phantom menace that stalks the woods, the practical piece of running gear is more like bait.

This feathered avenger of the forest was captured on video, swooping in on Nathan’s head as if it were making a kill.

“I did not hear it at all. It was absolutely silent,” he said.

The bird stealing his pride, along with his cap.

“It snatched it right off the top of my head,” he said. “He just took my hat.”

Not giving a hoot about the theft, the owl took the hat sky high, and taunted him from the treetops.

“Are you serious?,” Nathan asked in the video. “The owl I felt like was kind of daring me to come after it.”

This wasn’t his first run-in with an owl on the trails in the nature area. He said he was on or near a portion of the Lloyd Trail when he was first attacked a week prior.

“The first time I ended up in the urgent care because it put some talons in the top of the head,” said Nathan. During that encounter, he noted he was not wearing his hat. That hat spared him from scratches a week later when an owl made another swoop.

Dig deeper:

After Nathan reported his owl encounters, Snohomish County Parks posted warning signs on the trail.

After FOX 13 sent the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife the video, they identified the thief as a likely barred owl.

Though owl encounters aren’t uncommon, many others who regularly use the trail say they haven’t seen anyone attacked before on camera.

“Oh yeah, that got you nice,” said one man who viewed Nathan’s video while we were interviewing him.

“Usually they are just sitting up in a tree and get a good pic of them. But I haven’t caught any coming down on me like that. That’s a great video,” he said.

With a potentially wise old owl on the prowl, Nathan has a word to the wise; perhaps it’s best to wear a hat, or even a hard hat on the Paradise Valley trail for now. He says it protected his head from the owl’s talons.

“The second time it felt like an owl booped me on the top of my head instead of punching me,” he said, adding that the hat protected him from scratches.

Fortunately for Nathan, the winged assailant eventually dropped his hat.

“Are you going to swoop me again?,” he asked as he went to retrieve it.

Mother nature provided a distraction so he could snag it. Another owl appeared on scene and the two birds appeared to start tussling, flying further back into the woods.

“Oh, there’s two of them!,” he exclaimed on video.

Now that Nathan knows you can’t spell owl without the word “ow”, he started a “RunFromOwls” YouTube channel to celebrate his special interactions with nature.

“I feel lucky it happened a couple times, or very, very unlucky. I’m not sure,” said Nathan.

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The Source: Information in this story came from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

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November 14, 2025
Researchers in WA say newborn Southern Resident orca likely dead

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A group of whale researchers monitoring the Southern Resident J Pod believe a new baby orca, J64, is most likely dead.

Encounter #64 – October 23, 2025 – JPod – 1 (Center for Whale Research)

According to the Center for Whale Research, the team headed out after receiving reports of J Pod traveling north at the south end of Swanson Channel in Canadian waters northwest of the San Juan Islands. The team was eager to check on the status of J42’s new calf, J64.

Researchers spotted the whales near Village Bay and began taking identification photos of those present. They said J16, J26 and J42 were swimming a couple dozen yards northwest of the larger group.

What they’re saying:

“We found J42 and held the camera trigger down while waiting for J64 to pop up behind her,” the Center for Whale Research wrote in a Facebook post. “Unfortunately, J64 did not surface after J42. We hoped it was nursing or something, but we kept seeing J42 surface repeatedly, and there was no calf with her.”

After seeing J42 complete several long dives without the calf surfacing, the team concluded that J64 likely did not survive.

“We kept taking photos of the whole group hoping J64 was playing with other whales,” the group wrote. “However, there was no sign of the newest calf even though we kept seeing J62 and J63.”

What’s next:

The Center for Whale Research said J64 is most likely deceased but will continue to monitor future encounters. Standard protocol is to confirm a whale’s death after three consecutive sightings in which it is not present.

Researchers said this was J42’s first confirmed calf, and that mortality rates for calves born to first-time mothers are especially high among the Southern Residents.

Southern Residents depend on healthy, abundant Chinook salmon populations to sustain themselves and their young. Researchers believe poor nutrition and the transfer of toxins from mother to calf are likely key factors in the whales’ high mortality rate.

The Source: Information in this story comes from a press release by the Center for Whale Research.

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November 3, 2025
Beach bliss turns chaotic as shark lunges at snorkeler: ‘He could have ripped my arm off’

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A Florida man is reportedly recovering from being bitten by a shark while snorkeling with friends last weekend.

The incident occurred off Boca Chita Key in the Florida Keys’ Biscayne Bay in the late morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 25, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Emergency personnel responded to a medical call regarding an animal bite at around 11:30 a.m., authorities said. Officials airlifted the man to a local hospital.

FLORIDA BEACHES CLAIM 9 OF TOP 10 SPOTS FOR MOST SHARK ATTACKS IN AMERICA, NEW STUDY SHOWS

Yasvany Echevarria was reportedly attacked by a shark while snorkeling at Boca Chita Key in the Florida Keys’ Biscayne Bay on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (iStock)

The victim has been identified as Yosvany Echevarria, 46, according to CBS News Miami. He told the outlet he moved to the United States from Cuba three years ago, and was snorkeling with friends in the water when the shark bit him more than a half-dozen times.

“He could have ripped my arm off,” Echevarria told the outlet in Spanish. “I was scared. I was in a lot of pain. We were swimming there by the beach. I was diving in the water and snorkeling, and a shark lunged at me, at my hands.”

Echevarria added that he received 27 stitches as a result of the attack, and suffered severe injuries to his arm, CBS News Miami reported.

GREAT WHITE SHARK SIGHTINGS RISE ALONG NORTHEAST BEACHES AS SUMMER WINDS DOWN

Yosvany Echevarria told CBS News Miami he received 27 stitches after the shark attack at Biscayne Bay in the Florida Keys, while also suffering severe injuries to his arm. (iStock)

“We got out because we were close to the shore, and we called someone to pick us up,” Echevarria said.

As of this week, there have been 51 reported shark attacks throughout the country this year, according to trackingsharks.com. Of those incidents, 10 reported attacks have occurred in the Sunshine State – with some taking place in Hollywood Beach, located just 20 miles from Miami, and southwest Florida’s Boca Grande.

SHARK BITES BEACH FISHERMAN WHO DRAGGED THRASHING PREDATOR BACK TO WATER AFTER CATCH

Last year, there were 71 reported bites – including 47 unprovoked attacks – worldwide, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File. Data indicates that 28 of the unprovoked attacks occurred in the United States, with Florida accounting for the country’s most unprovoked bites after 14 people reported incidents last year.

There have been 51 reported shark attacks throughout the United States in 2025, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File. (iStock)

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“My advice to people is if they are going to get in the water, they need to be careful. It could have been much worse,” Echevarria reportedly said. “I was lucky it was just bites. He could have ripped my arm off.”

Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Writer for Fox News Digital and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to julia.bonavita@fox.com.

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October 30, 2025
Wild bear makes ‘very polite’ surprise visit to California zoo before returning to forest

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A young American black bear made an unexpected but calm appearance at Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California, this week, delighting staff.

NEW YEAR, NEW ADVENTURE AS TRAVELERS CAN SLEEP NEAR WILD ANIMALS WHILE VISITING SAFARI PARK

Zoo officials described the roughly 1.5-year-old bear as “very polite” during its brief visit. The curious newcomer, likely a recently independent cub, climbed a tree near the perimeter fence — a favorite activity for adventurous young bears — and wandered in from the neighboring 67-acre Sequoia Park forest.

The curious newcomer was likely a newly independent cub. (Sequoia Park Zoo)

Bears are common in the surrounding redwood forest, zoo staff explained to Fox News Digital. “But this is the first to visit our bear family.”

BEARS ESCAPE WILDLIFE PARK ENCLOSURE AND FEAST ON WEEK’S WORTH OF HONEY

Once inside, the wild visitor sniffed around, investigated scents from the zoo’s resident bears, and kept a respectful distance.

A wild bear climbed past Sequoia Park Zoo’s perimeter gates. (Sequoia Park Zoo)

The encounter remained uneventful: there was no aggression or disruption, and the bear never entered any habitats or public spaces.

MAN DIES IN LIKELY BEAR ATTACK AT ARKANSAS CAMPSITE DAYS AFTER SENDING PHOTOS OF ANIMAL TO FAMILY

When staff opened a gate to offer a safe exit, the young bear simply returned to the forest on its own.

Black bears are generally not aggressive and avoid contact with humans. (iStock)

The Sequoia Park Zoo emphasized that the event did not highlight conflict between the wild bears and those in captivity, but rather a peaceful coexistence.

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The zoo’s resident bears, who can often be seen climbing 200-foot redwoods or swimming in their naturalistic habitat, were placed there by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife after being deemed unsuitable for wild release.

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“Our message is all about keeping wild bears wild,” the zoo noted. “Encounters like this remind us we share space with incredible wildlife — and that respectful distance helps keep them safe.”

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No video exists of the wild bear’s visit, though the zoo released two official photos of the friendly visitor.

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Zoo officials noted that black bears are “generally not aggressive” and in fact often avoid contact with people.

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.

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October 26, 2025
Man dies in likely bear attack at Arkansas campsite days after sending photos of animal to family

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A Missouri man was found dead from a likely bear attack this week, just two days after he sent photos to his family of a bear at his campsite in Arkansas, according to officials.

Police found the 60-year-old man’s body several hundred yards from his campsite near Mt. Judea, Arkansas, on Thursday. The area showed signs of a struggle and had drag marks away from the camp.

The man’s son had asked for a welfare check because his dad hadn’t checked in for a couple of days since sending the photos.

His body has “extensive” injuries “consistent with those expected from a large carnivore attack,” the Newton County Sheriff’s Department said in a release.

ALASKA JOGGER DRAGGED 100 YARDS BY BEAR IN TERRIFYING PREDAWN ATTACK NEAR DRIVEWAY

A Missouri man was found dead from a likely bear attack this week just two days after he sent photos to his family of a bear at his campsite in Arkansas, according to officials. File photo of a brown bear. (Getty Images)

Search efforts were still underway on Saturday to find the bear, which appeared to be a young male, according to the photos sent by the man. Officials said they weren’t sure the bear in the photos was the one that attacked.

“Until the Arkansas Crime Lab completes the autopsy, we can’t 100% say it was a bear, but everything strongly indicates it,” Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said in a statement. “We are attempting to find the bear and dispose of it so the Game and Fish Commission can test it for anything that may have led to the encounter.”

He added, “We know without a doubt that a bear was in camp with our victim and the injuries absolutely are consistent with a bear attack. This is a highly unusual case. We are very early in the investigation and search and will update as we can. If you are in the area, just be aware and use caution, especially with children. History tells us that once a bear becomes predatory, it often continues those behaviors.”

Sam’s Throne Campground has been temporarily closed following the attack. (Google Maps)

The campground, known as Sam’s Throne, has been temporarily closed to the public while the search for the bear continues. Wheeler warned people to be vigilant while enjoying the outdoors: keep food away from where you sleep, don’t approach bears even if they’re small and carry bear spray or some other way to defend yourself.

WOMAN SAVES HUSBAND’S LIFE WITH BEAR SPRAY DURING GRIZZLY ATTACK IN WILDERNESS

“I don’t want this to become open season on any bear that someone may see, as most bears fear humans and run away,” Wheeler added. “But, at the same time, don’t put yourself or others in jeopardy.”

This would be the second bear attack in the state in a month if confirmed.

A 72-year-old Arkansas man was mauled by a black bear in early September. He later died of his injuries.

A Missouri man was found dead from a likely bear attack at his campsite in Arkansas. (iStock)

Before that, the last fatal bear attack in Arkansas was in 1892, according to the Arkansas Times.

“I don’t even know how to put it into words, to tell you the truth. These things just don’t happen,” Keith Stephens, the chief of communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, told the newspaper. “It just seems so bizarre. It’s not even in my realm of comprehension. I’m really in shock today. Actually, when I was told about it, I thought they were kidding me just to give me a hard time from the last one. It’s obviously not a joking matter, but it just didn’t seem real.”

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The bear in the first attack was previously euthanized.

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October 4, 2025
102,000 salmon spilled from tanker truck in Oregon. Here’s how most survived

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LA GRANDE, Ore. – A truck carrying more than 100,000 salmon smolts overturned in Oregon. Miraculously, a majority of the salmon made it to a river and survived the ordeal.

The crash happened on March 29 when a truck, transporting about 102,000 spring Chinook smolts, overturned on a sharp corner. The driver, an ODFW employee, sustained minor injuries but survived the incident. The 53-foot vehicle skidded on its side, skirting pavement before rolling over a rocky embankment and onto its roof.

A truck carrying more than 100,000 salmon smolts overturned in Oregon, and, miraculously, most of them managed to survive. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

“We are thankful the ODFW employee driving the truck was not seriously injured,” said Andrew Gibbs, ODFW fish hatchery coordinator for Eastern Oregon. “This should not impact our ability to collect future brood stock or maintain full production goals in the future.”

Following the accident, about 77,000 smolts made their way into Lookingglass Creek, a tributary of the Grande Ronde River situated adjacent to the accident site. However, an estimated 25,529 smolts did not survive, with their remains retrieved from the tanker or area of the crash site.

A truck carrying more than 100,000 salmon smolts overturned in Oregon. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)

Emergency response services from the Union County Sheriff’s department promptly arrived on the scene, providing effective containment of a minor diesel fuel spill. They also supported on-site evaluations and vehicle recovery procedures, avoiding the necessity for hazardous material spill response.

A truck carrying more than 100,000 salmon smolts overturned in Oregon, and, miraculously, most of them managed to survive. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Lookingglass Hatchery, responsible for raising these spring Chinooks, carries out this task under the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan. Their work is instrumental for recreational and tribal harvests and supplementary to the threatened wild population on the Imnaha River.

Partners in fishery management, the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) were informed about the accident. The NPT staff lended their assistance during the recovery process by aiding in the collection, counting, and tag scanning of the deceased fish.

A truck carrying more than 100,000 salmon smolts overturned in Oregon, and, miraculously, most of them managed to survive. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)

The loss amounts to approximately 20% of the total smolts meant for release into the Imnaha River this year. Due to this, fishery managers estimate a resulting decrease of about 500-900 returning adult fish in 2026 and 2027. Contrastingly, the 77,000 fish that survived will likely populate Lookingglass Creek, leading to the eventual return of an estimated 350-700 adult fish.

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Tyler.Slauson@fox.com (Tyler Slauson)

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April 4, 2024
Falling trees claim 2 lives in one month

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Falling trees claim 2 lives in one month

Within a single month, less than five miles apart, falling trees claimed two lives in western Washington.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. – In a split second and a sudden crack, lives were forever changed. Within a single month, less than five miles apart, falling trees claimed two lives in western Washington.

A woman was driving in traffic on Issaquah-Hobart Road when a tree came crashing down from an uphill embankment. She was killed right at the intersection of May Valley Road. According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, a deadly “snag” tree is likely to blame. Investigators can tell this due to the tree’s decaying interior trunk described as “wet, spongy and rotten”.

Mere weeks before, a man driving on Highway 18 was struck and killed by a tree. He was right near the Issaquah-Hobart Road exit. Eastside Fire and Rescue responded to both fatal incidents.

“It’s part of living in Washington,” said Lt. Ian D’Ambrosia with Eastside Fire and Rescue. “You’ve got all the beauty with all the trees, but there’s also some hazards that come with it.”

In addition to the two fatalities, within the last few weeks Lt. D’Ambrosia’s colleagues also responded to a downed pine tree in Woodinville. The towering tree landed squarely on the roof of an unoccupied sedan.

“There’s a lot of weight involved, a lot of limbs,” D’Ambrosia noted. “Even noticing a tree is coming down is very difficult.”

The responsibility for fallen trees on a right of way remains unclear. Could private property owners be held liable? Certified arborist Sal Noeldner explained that the answers to those questions are murky.

“There aren’t any rules that require landowners or tree managers to actually hire a certified arborist to come out and check out their trees,” Noeldner explained.

He explained once an area is clear-cut and pavement is laid, trees naturally begin to lean towards sunlight, forming a tunnel over the road. However, as the roots and trunks creep closer to the pavement, particularly at the edges of streets, it becomes a problem.

“Edges are a pretty harsh growing environment. You have increased wind and sun exposure,” Noeldner stated. “It creates a harder place for a healthier tree to be.”

Noeldner stressed the importance of analyzing these trees growing on edges. When a windstorm comes through or the ground is oversaturated, they’re the first to come crashing down.

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Lauren.Donovan@fox.com (Lauren Donovan)

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March 16, 2024
Seaquarium where Tokitae died gets evicted by city of Miami

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Miami Seaquarium gets evicted from city

The Miami Seaquarium, an old-Florida style tourist attraction that was home to Lolita, the beloved Orca that died last year, is being evicted from the waterfront property it leases from Miami-Dade County.

MIAMI – A lease termination was served to the company that runs the Miami Seaquarium (MSQ), the facility where Tokitae, a beloved killer whale that was taken from the Pacific Northwest half a century ago, died in 2023.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said that the Dolphin Company, which runs MSQ, had repeatedly fallen short of contractual obligations.

“From failing to maintain the premises in good condition, to failing to demonstrate that they can ensure the safety and wellbeing of the animals under their care, the current state of the Miami Seaquarium is unsustainable and unsafe,” said Levine Cava.

The owner of the company immediately took to Twitter, stating that he was outside of her office while she addressed Miami media outlets and was denied access to the press conference where she laid out her concerns.

“Miami Seaquarium is open and will remain open,” wrote Eduardo Albor, who went on to say that the mayor was lying to the public.

It’s a very different back-and-forth than from March 2023 when both the mayor and Albor made a highly publicized announcement that various entities were coming together to begin efforts to return Tokitae to her home waters.

However, as Tokitae’s health deteriorated and plans to return her to Washington state began to seem more far-fetched, issues continued to pile up for the long-troubled aquarium.

The USDA had issued various reports over the past calendar year raising alarms about the state of the facility. Documented issues range from black mold to bacteria in water and injuries to both animals and visitors.

In the letter that was delivered to MSQ on Thursday morning, references were made to three notices of violations dating back to 2022. There were also various USDA inspection concerns, including numerous citations for failing to adequately maintain facilities, inadequate veterinary care, inadequate water and more.

Whistleblowers have long blamed MSQ for ongoing issues. Dr. Jenna Wallace was among the former veterinarians who raised concerns of animal deaths, including Tokitae’s.

“I’m very concerned that her behavior was misinterpreted because those people that we there did not know this animal for two decades like her previous staff did,” said Dr. Wallace days after a short synopsis of Tokitae’s death was released without a full necropsy.

In recent days, it was announced that a documentary surrounding her final days will be revealed at a film festival next month – it is unclear whether the movie will focus on the deteriorating conditions of the park, or its multiple citations from USDA in her final months of life.

HOW DID TOKI WIND UP IN CAPTIVITY?

Native American tribes revere orcas, considering them their relatives.

White settlers had a different view. Fishermen reviled the “blackfish” as competition for salmon and sometimes shot them.

That began to change in 1965, when a man named Ted Griffin bought a killer whale that had been caught in a fisherman’s net in British Columbia and towed it to the Seattle waterfront. The whale — Namu — became a sensation.

Namu soon died from an infection, but Griffin had set off a craze for capturing the Pacific Northwest’s killer whales and training them to perform, as The Seattle Times recounted in a 2018 history. Griffin corralled dozens of orcas off Washington’s Whidbey Island in 1970. Several got caught and drowned when opponents cut the nets, intending to free them.

Many orcas remained nearby, declining to leave as their clan members were hauled out of the water. Among those kept was 4-year-old Tokitae, later sold to the Miami Seaquarium.

By the early 1970s, at least 13 Northwest orcas had been killed and 45 delivered to theme parks around the world; Toki is the only one still alive. The roundups reduced the Puget Sound resident population by about 40% and helped cause problems with inbreeding that imperil them today.

Outrage over the captures helped prompt the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

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Matthew.Smith@fox.com (Matthew Smith)

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March 7, 2024