:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AAVN3XKEYFDIJGMX4OMB54RW4Q.png)
10 of the most bizarre news stories in 2020
As if the coronavirus pandemic wasnโt enough for us to handle, with all things considered, 2020 has been one of the most unpredictable, unfathomable, and just downright bizarre years on record. Itโs hard to say what 2021 will have in store, but for now, weโre taking a look back at some of the weirdest moments of 2020. As many as 1.5 million cicadas were expected to swarm parts of Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) (NASA/JPL-Caltech)What better way to cap off 2020 than look to the sky and witness something not seen in almost 800 years. Read also:2020 in photos: AP images capture chaos, sorrow amid pandemic, protests, catastrophesGone too soon: Celebrities who died in 2020
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/X2KDKOBH2FFYVNIOSETKEHCJTI.jpg)
Ever heard of the Raccoon Whisperer? These videos will leave you speechless
Thereโs nothing like a bond between human and pets, no matter how unusual it is. Instead of dogs, cats, birds or other common household pets, Blackwood is a passionate caretaker of raccoons, dubbing himself the โRaccoon Whisperer.โItโs not just a couple of the furry creatures that Blackwood takes care of. One of the videos shows Blackwood feeding the raccoons peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. On the channel, Blackwood said he has been rehabbing raccoons for 20 years. He has ever since, and all the raccoons in the woods know where to go when they get hungry.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L3ODPXVRWFEH7LRR7XLEGPK5E4.jpg)
Look out! Stinging caterpillar sightings have increased due to โlittle population burstโ
SAN ANTONIO โ Stinging caterpillars have been seen quite a bit around Texas recently and there have been some postings on social media about these hairy insects. Be careful though, experts warn that touching these stinging caterpillars can cause contact rashes and painful reactions. โThis is the time of year when we have a little population burst of the puss caterpillars,โ said AgriLife Extension specialist Molly Keck. Stinging caterpillar species include the buck moth caterpillar, spiny oak slug caterpillar, hickory tussock moth caterpillar, saddleback caterpillar and Io moth caterpillar, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Keck has previously reported sightings of both buck moth caterpillars and tussock moth caterpillars in Bexar County.
'Ketchupโ with the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile as it visits San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO โ The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is on a โcoast-to-coast wiener roastโ and will be making stops around San Antonio until October 18. When you visit the 27-foot-long hot dog on wheels be sure to ask the โHotdoggerโ crew for a โWiener Whistle!โWhere can I see the Wienermobile? @ the DoSeum Childrenโs MuseumOctober 11th from 11a.m.-4 p.m. @ Alamo PlazaOctober 18th from 11a.m- 4:30p.m. Last year Erica Hernandez got to go for a spin around town inside the Wienermobile. Check out the video below.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KPGITQZYQVH7FIZUJU3IF35JOM.jpg)
Search for buried booty in Texas treasure hunt
SAN ANTONIO You could find buried treasure in the Texas Hill Country -- an estimated $340 million worth. Texas is estimated to have $340 million in buried treasure, more than any other state in the U.S., according to TexasHillCountry.com. Bass is also tied to legends of treasure buried treasure in Burnet and Llano counties as well as Packsaddle Mountain, Lone Star Treasure reports. According to TexasHillCountry.com, legend says theres close to $3 million buried near where Shoal Creek empties into the Colorado River. Singer buried the chest after being forced to leave his home and returned several times in an effort to find his buried treasure but was never able to recover his fortune.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I7O2HGGJ7ZEZDGRGXC7TXFMPAA.jpg)
Blue dragons arenโt the only odd things spotted at Texas beaches in the last year
Earlier this month rarely-seen blue dragons made an appearance at Padre Island National Seashore but itโs not the only odd thing thatโs been spotted along the Texas coast in the last year. Last August a mystery creature was found on Padre Island and there was some debate about whether or not it was a cuttlefish or a blanket octopus. PINS officials posted video of a sea hare spotted at the beach in early May. Creature feature: the sea hare. The sea hare (Aplysia brasiliana) is another type of sea slug.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SKUQCHLHSNEWJOLX2MGS35633U.jpg)
Someone put kiwi on a pizza and we canโt unsee it
There are things that are sacred in this world, and one of those things is pizza -- and the toppings we choose to put on that pizza. Kiwi may be sweet, but when was the last time you heard of kiwi getting incorporated into a savory dish, let alone being used as topping on an innocent pizza that didnโt ask for any of this nonsense? The photo of the kiwi pizza was tweeted out in January and it went viral immediately -- with most people equally (or if not more) grossed out by this flavor combination. People compared it to a petri dish, called it a โtravestyโ and blamed pineapple on pizza for this cooking crime. Letโs just hope this was a one-off experimentation and kiwi pizza doesnโt start showing up at our favorite pizza chains.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/VIC5J2PQGBAP3JV67MUNWLNHCQ.jpg)
5-year-old boy was pulled over in Utah on his way to California to try to buy a Lamborghini
Utah โ A 5-year-old boy with $3 in his pocket was pulled over by Utah police while driving his parent's car to California to buy a Lamborghini. The boy left in the SUV after arguing with his mother, who said she would not buy the luxury car for him, Utah Highway Patrol said on Twitter. A trooper spotted the vehicle weaving on Interstate 15 at 30 mph, the Utah Highway Patrol said. The boy said he left home with only $3 in his pocket after an argument with his mom because she refused to buy a sports car, the #Utah Highway Patrol said. Once he was pulled over, the child told the trooper he had intended to drive to California to purchase a Lamborghini for himself.
Chinese cafe paints dogs to look like giant pandas
A Chinese cafe is under fire for painting dogs as pandas to stand out in the competitive pet cafe market. The controversy started when the state-run People's Daily posted a video of the fluffy Chow Chow dogs on social media. "It costs 1,500 Chinese yuan ($212) to dye (a pet) each time," the owner, surnamed Huang, said in the video. Animal activists have warned that dyeing animals can cause serious harm. In 2016, pet shops in southern Guangdong province were selling dogs dyed to look like miniature tigers, the People's Daily reported.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/FAKEQPFE5ZDJJMG3OOOYTRVBQ4.jpg)
The US proposed nuking the moon, and other surprising facts about Earthโs celestial satellite
Since the moon is Earth's closest celestial neighbor, we've been able to learn more about it than any other in the solar system. There are surprising details about the moon, such as how in 1958, the US proposed exploding a nuclear bomb on its surface, for clout. Twelve men walked on the moon between those years, and all spacecraft on the moon's surface since have been unmanned. Astronauts will dock Orion at the Gateway, a spacecraft where they will live and work around the moon. Tides are caused by the moonThere are two bulges in Earth resulting from the gravitational pull of the moon.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/75ZSGBDTXRBOFBWSHDQSAGZS54.jpg)
Potentially 'habitable', earth-like planet discovered by NASA
The TESS, or transit exoplanet survey satellite, was able to locate more than 1000 exoplanets using light waves. "Exoplanets are planets that are orbiting outside of our solar system,โ explained Junellie Gonzalez-Quiles, a research assistant with NASA. While more than 1000 exoplanets were discovered by TESS, it is a recent finding of 3 exoplanets that has scientists talking. Water, of course, means that life could potentially exist on the earth-sized planet. "Just understanding their atmospheres and comparing it to ours and being able to see if potentially could have life,โ said Gonzalez-Quiles.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IHCKDRTOG5AEVG3GI2TOUB5GA4.jpg)
Florida man dressed as Fred Flintstone pulled over for driving 'footmobile'
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. โ A Florida man (of course... Florida man) was pulled over by law enforcement and given a citation. All sounds normal, until you learn that he was dressed as Fred Flintstone and the vehicle he was "driving" was the footmobile made famous in the popular cartoon show. Don Swartz (aka, Fred Flintstone) was driving around the Pasco County area in his Smart Car disguised as the footmobile, WTVT reports. Full Screen 1 / 5Pasco County deputy H. Echevarria pulled Swartz over for allegedly speeding in a neighborhood and issued him a notice to appear. "A very special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Don and Trina Swartz for being such great sports... Yabba Dabba Doo!"
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/H5VATG75FNGRHOQAFPNNWSYA3E.jpg)
Exotic reptile reunited with owner after being found on Brackenridge golf course
UPDATE: The lizard has been reunited her owner after being stolen from her owner's backyard. The giant tegu's name is Dottie and her owner, a local Army veteran, wished to remain anonymous. ______________________ORIGINAL STORY: A Parks and Recreation staff member happened upon an exotic reptile on the Brackenridge golf course Tuesday. The lizard has been identified as a giant tegu, a lizard normally found in South America, not San Antonio. ACS workers have named the giant tegu Godzilla and are working to find an appropriate placement for the animal.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/XYX5GNRDABEONML2WZYTIWA6ZU.jpg)
Woman and squirrel removed from plane; woman says squirrel was support animal
ORLANDO, Fla. โ A woman was escorted off a plane by police at the Orlando International Airport after bringing a squirrel on the plane. According to WKMG, the woman indicated she was traveling with a support animal but didn't say it was a squirrel. When the crew was made aware of the squirrel, the woman was asked to get off the flight, but she refused. Orlando police were called and all of the passengers had to deplane so officers could "deal with the passenger." In a statement provided to WKMG, Frontier Airlines said, "Rodents, including squirrels, are not allowed on Frontier flights."
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HKAOVH7FXBDB7H6X6FLBDAQPN4.jpg)
'The Bird' causes traffic buildup in Southwest Houston
HOUSTON โ At the corner of Beechnut Street and La Roche Lane in Southwest Houston, there's an exotic bird that has been stalling traffic. โThe bird chases everything back and forth every day,โ said Patrick Purnell of southwest Houston. โWe just call it 'The Bird,'โ Solano said. โAnd The Bird comes out and goes all around under the cars that are coming in and going,โ Pinto said. โIt's a mystery bird,โ Purnell said.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/MHS33KA7GJFQBJ6GVZ2J4UXTWQ.jpg)
Man caught on camera pooping, peeing on house
The man was seen on camera cursing and muttering Saturday morning at a home on La Branch Street on the Midtown/Museum District border. After getting notifications from the Ring doorbell app, the daughter decided to check the camera footage recorded on the device. "Then he puts his phone down picks up an old board and hits the camera," she said. [WATCH: Surveillance video of man pooping outside house]"That's when I saw it and I smelled it," she said. "He just pulled his pants down and started peeing on the gate then he pulled them down even further and decided to poop right next to the gate," she said.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/5NWAR75AYNDN7GI3IXBUPU5A4I.jpg)
Fla. parking mistake lands car on top of vintage Corvette
EDGEWOOD, Fla. โ A classic 1959 Corvette was crushed after another car settled on top of it following a parking accident outside a Florida Walmart. UPI reports the Corvette was parked off to the side of the lot at the Edgewood store when the driver of a Ford Fusion accidentally hit the gas. The owner of the Corvette is Paul Stamoulis, the Supervisor of Elections for Charlotte County. In a video posted to Facebook, Stamoulis appears cool and calm, but who knows what was brewing inside his head. A tow truck was called out to remove the Corvette from underneath the Fusion.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/VMD7FTDX2BBATNWZ2BZY7RM7XI.jpg)
South Florida rapper busted for guns, drugs while illegally parked in handicapped spot
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. โ South Florida rapper Stitches was arrested after police found a gun and drugs in his car when he was stopped for parking in a handicapped spot. Phillip Katsabanis, whose stage name is Stitches, was stopped Wednesday after his Porsche was seen in a handicapped space without a permit outside a Whole Foods supermarket in Miami Beach. A Miami Beach police officer found a 9 mm Glock handgun inside the vehicle after Katsabanis denied having any firearms. The rapper apologized for not disclosing the guns, believing police had asked him if he had a gun on him, not in his car. As Stitches, Katsabanis released his first album titled For Drug Dealers Only in 2015.