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Tag: animal attack

  • Pet Duck Attack: Oregon Woman Sued For $275,000

    Cynthia Ruddell from Washougal, Washington, is suing her mother’s neighbor for $275,000 in damages brought on by a pet duck attack.

    On May 2012, Ruddell was in Oregon visiting her mother when she was attacked by a duck, which she claims happened without any provocation. While running away from the duck, Ruddell fell to the ground, spraining her shoulder and elbow, and breaking her wrist. Gregory Price, Ruddell’s attorney, said that the pet duck “flapped its wings at her and knocked her back and she fell down on an outstretched hand and fractured her wrist in two spots.”

    In the complaint, Ruddell is accusing the duck’s owner Lolita Rose, of neglecting to control her pet duck. The lawsuit also states that Rose was aware that the duck had “abnormally dangerous propensities in attacking people.”

    The duck’s behavior towards Ruddell wasn’t the first. According to Rose’s neighbors, they have also seen the duck attack other people in the neighborhood and even kids who are waiting by the bus stop. The lawsuit is also accusing Rose of failing to warn neighbors and other people of the duck’s violent behavior.

    Ruddell, who is a retired nurse, is seeking $25,000 for medical expenses and $250,000 for the pain and suffering from the injuries she acquired during the incident.

    Price believes that Rose has had her pet duck killed since the incident that happened with Ruddell.

    Price mentioned that he is expecting the cost of the damages to be paid by Rose’s insurance policy. However, they still chose to file a lawsuit against Rose as a safeguard, since there will still be medical bills to cover from Ruddell’s second surgery to her wrist. Furthermore, the incident has brought Ruddell attention that she does not want.

    Rose has yet to release a statement about the case.

    When Animals Attack

    Image via YouTube

  • Elephants Escape Circus And Damage Parked Vehicles In Missouri

    Three female elephants escaped from the Moolah Shrine Circus in St. Charles’ Family Arena on Saturday and damaged several vehicles as they traipsed along the parking lot. The elephants escaped from the children’s ride section of the circus; fortunately, there were no children on the elephants at the time.

    Loud noises from the circus audience may have spooked the animals, according to eyewitnesses. Sally Schmiz, one of the eyewitnesses, said that she felt the ground shake, and when she looked up, she saw the three elephants. The huge animals went through trucks, breaking the mirrors and panels off, and damaging windows.

    Karyn Tunnicliff, another witness who was in a car just outside the Family Arena, said that she and her daughter saw people running after the elephants, screaming for the animals to stop. They also saw circus staff trying to run alongside the elephants. Her daughter Allie was able to capture a video of an elephant between cars. Allie also said she saw one of the trainers shout for some treats to lure the elephants with: “We need pretzels!”

    After about 45 minutes, the handlers were able to recapture the elephants and bring them back to their enclosures. In a statement, the Shrine Circus said that the elephants “are now resting comfortably in their compound.” No one was hurt during the incident, and the escapees were given the night off.

    Dennis Burkholder, the spokesperson for the Shriners, said that the parking lot is the private property of the circus and therefore is not accessible to the public. The vehicles parked belong to circus performers and staff. The show was ongoing when the elephants escaped, so the lot was almost empty.

    The Moolah Shrine Circus is a regular event in St. Louis, and had eight performances this year. The proceeds of the annual circus benefit the Moolah Shrine Center and its advocacies for children.

    When Elephants Attack! (graphic)


    Image via YouTube

  • Pope Releases “Peace Doves”, Birds Attacked

    It’s almost like something out a dark comedy.

    On Sunday, as thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, two white doves were released by children. Standing next to them was Pope Francis himself.

    The gesture was meant to promote world peace. You can’t get much more sweet and well meaning than that, right?

    Well, Mother Nature was having none of the Holy Father yesterday.

    Shortly after the two beautiful birds were set free, they were attacked by a crow and a seagull. The two birds themselves had just been set free from the Apostolic Palace, and for whatever reason took their distress out on the helpless doves. Neither bird was fatally injured, though both were wounded and one lost quite a bit of its feathers in the attack.

    The symbolic act followed a plea for peace in Ukraine, were protests have been raging for months, and the clashes had turned violent. Three Ukrainian protesters had been killed a week ago, and opposition leaders had turned down offers of government positions made by President Yanukovych.

    While this event can and will be viewed as a terrible and sad coincidence that may have frightened children, there is likely going to be symbolism taken away from the event, and with good reason.

    While doves represent peace, nonviolence and good will, crows are known to represent death and bad omens. As for seagulls, they’ve actually been known to be signs of good fortune.

    So to the superstitious, this may have been one way of saying that although we may want world peace and an end to conflict, these things will not be forthcoming. Instead of peace and nonviolence, there will be violence, death, and terrible fortunes to be had.

    This conclusion may be obvious to some without the symbolism. Regardless, rather than being disheartened by signs and symbolism gone wrong, there is a positive take away.

    The doves somehow managed to bring together a seagull and a crow, two birds not known to get along:

    Image via ITN

  • Thai Elephant Attack, Tourist Trampled To Death

    Authorities in Thailand continue their investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found by Thai park rangers on January 18th. The woman has since been identified as Lily Glidden of Freeville, NY. She was 24-years-old.

    Glidden was a 2012 graduate of Tufts University where she majored in Biology. She was known for her interest in animals and the outdoors.

    Representatives of Tufts University said the institution was, “saddened to learn of the death of Lily Glidden.”

    “We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of this talented young woman.”

    Glidden was last seen at the campground in Kaeng Krachan National Park, located in the Phetchaburi province. Her body was found five days later.

    Given the severity of the injuries to her body, authorities in Thailand felt that elephants were likely responsible. Police Col. Woradet Suanklaai said that police felt that she had gone to look for elephants to photograph.

    “Looking at the pictures she took in her camera, we see a lot of animals, birds, snakes, lizards. We assumed she wanted to take pictures of elephants because that’s what the Kaeng Krachan National Park is famous for.”

    In a statement reported by NBC News, the family of Glidden said that she was, “very aware of the dangers of working with wildlife and not a person to court foolish risks, particularly where animals were involved.”

    Whether this statement implies the belief that foul play was involved has not been determined, though those who knew her do not believe she would take an encounter with an animal as unpredictable and potentially dangerous as an elephant lightly.

    Glidden was an experienced hiker and reportedly knew how to respond to chance encounters with dangerous animals. Says her family, “[Glidden had] an educated and dedicated respect for the natural world”.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Beaver Kills Fisherman By Biting Him To Death

    A man in Belarus–which is located between Russia and Poland–has died after a beaver literally bit him to death.

    The man, who was on his way to a fishing trip with friends, spotted the large animal on the side of the road as they made their way towards the lake and stopped to have his picture taken with it. But when he picked it up, the beaver attacked and began biting him, eventually slicing open a large artery in his leg. The 60-year old man bled to death before his friends could get help.

    “The character of the wound was totally shocking,” said the village doctor Leonty Sulim. “We had never run into anything like this before.”

    Beaver attacks are not uncommon in Belarus, though the latest victim is the only person known to have died from one. Locals say the animals are growing exponentially in population–up to 80,000 in Belarus alone–and are fiercely protective of their young, which makes them vicious.

    Wildlife experts say they’ve seen a rash of beaver-related incidents involving humans because the animals are moving further away from wooded areas as their numbers grow.

    Below is a separate beaver attack, filmed in Russia.