Archive for the ‘anomalies’ category

« FOXSYLVANIA home page
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Icelandic River Monster?

February 15, 2012

  – – A video reportedly showing an apparent subarctic anaconda snaking its way upstream through Iceland’s Jokulsa River as shot by a 67-year-old farmer has been subjected to an analysis in which the position of the monster’s head were matched up with relation to static reference points.  It was concluded that the “monster” was actually stuck in one place on the river, with moving water creating the illusion of a swimming snake.

The object is thought to be a fishing net or long piece of cloth caught on a branch or a rock lying beneath the surface of the water.  The serpentine shape is caused by chunks of ice hanging onto the net.

Iceland does have a legendary Lagafljot Worm, the Icelandic equivalent of the Loch Ness monster…but this was no Nessie cousin.

Categories: animals, anomalies, aquatic, cryptozoology, mysteries, strange
Tags: , ,

Comments: 3 Comments

Janus Cats…

October 7, 2011

 – -They are not Photoshopped or the product of trick photography; meet Frank (left) and Louie (right), the world’s longest surviving Janus cat.  Named for the figure in Roman mythology with two faces on one head,  Janus cats seldom survive due to congenital defects that include cleft palate, often causing the afflicted animal to starve or choke to death.  Frank and Louie, however, beat the odds handsomely, using only one mouth to feed and making it to the ripe old feline age of 12 years. 

Originally taken by his breeder to be euthanized at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Frank and Louie were instead adopted by a worker there, and have fared well since.  Residing in Worcester, Mass. the exotic blue-eyed rag doll cat boasts two faces, two mouths, two noses, and three eyes, and is a friendly soul who walks on a leash and loves car rides…

Categories: animal oddities, animals, anomalies, furry, rare animal, science
Tags:

Comments: 2 Comments

Mystery Roadkill!

August 24, 2011

 – – I, for one, can never get enough of mystery roadkill!  One such dead white mammal was found on a Douglas County road in Minnesota that boasts five claws, dark tufts of hair on its back and head, and long toenails.- -Well actually, it’s not boasting anything, such being one of the limitations of being dead…

While the head suggests a canine, the right front leg appears to have five toes, which is not typical for canines.  The long toenails are also not typical for an active canine.  While the creature is similar to a badger, the tail is much longer than usual for such.  Other guesses about the identity of the mystery carcass have ranged from a skunk to a wolverine to a wolf or, of course, the mythical chupacabra!   The usual rumors are also flying about secret government testing, without which I wouldn’t be here.

…while the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been unable to conclusively identify the carcass,  further testing is planned.  Meanwhile, guinea hens and cats in the area are missing, and burrowed holes from four to ten inches in size were spotted near where the animal was found.  The best guess on the identity of the deceased at this point is that it’s a badger with mange…or is it?!   Dramatic Fox

Categories: animals, anomalies, mysteries, unexplained, unidentified
Tags: ,

Comments: 4 Comments

Caddy, the Alaskan Nessie?

July 22, 2011

 – – There’s a monster in Alaska…and no, I do not speak of Sarah Palin!  I even dislike the term, “monster,” for its negative connotations.  But in the North Pacific a 2009 video captures a 20- to 30-foot long unknown creature.  The footage, black and white video, was taken by fishermen on a rainy day with (- -what else?) a shaky camera.  


One eyewitness, none less than Andy Hillstrand of the Deadliest Catch reality tv show, describes the creature as a “big, long white thing moving in the water.”  Spray came out of the creature’s head, and the fishermen chased it for twenty minutes.  Described as “definitely not a shark,” the cryptid was unlike anything that the men had seen before.  

This Nessie-like aquatic animal hails from the Cadboro Bay in British Columbia, and is accordingly called “Caddy” for short.  It is further described as having a long neck, a horse-like head, large eyes, and back bumps that stick out of the water.   No newcomer, reports of such a creature have circulated for 200 years.  In 1937, scientists thought that they might have uncovered physical evidence of  Caddy when what was thought to be a sea serpent was found inside the stomach of a whale. 


Alternative identities of the sightings have made mention of the Beluga whale, an oarfish, or a ribbon fish.  In any case, be wary of large, blurry monsters running rampant on the land and seas!  And would someone with a high-definition camera please get out there?!

Categories: animals, anomalies, cryptozoology, mysteries, strange, unexplained, weird

Comments: 4 Comments

Mountain Lions in Connecticut!

June 14, 2011

 – – Mountain lions are said not to exist in Connecticut.  The problem is, however, mountain lions don’t read, and nobody thought to tell them; they just don’t appreciate that the nearest confirmed population of their kind is in Missouri.  As if to reinforce to one mountain lion that he was extinct, an SUV plowed into one on the Wilbur Cross Parkway earlier this month.

Now where do non-indigenous species come from?  Most likely, a rather lively trade in wild animals that is fueled by the internet.  While some states have laws prohibiting private ownership of non-native animals such as big cats, bears, wolves, and chimpanzees other states do not…and this patchwork quilt of different laws from state to state allows the irresponsible to travel to nearby states to make exotic animal purchases.  Sadly, illegal trafficking in exotic animals is a global business worth up to $20 billion annually.   A lot of the local exotic animal trade is fed by zoo or circus surplus,  the descendents of those animals, or from breeders. 

The eastern mountain lion slain may have been held in captivity, and either escaped or was released.  Irresponsible human behaviors continue to claim animal victims in this manner…

(…tip o’ the pen to carycomic!)

Categories: animal abuse, animals, anomalies, environmental, furry, unexplained
Tags: ,

Comments: 1 Comment

New Bigfoot Footage?

May 31, 2011

 – – Once again Bigfoot has reportedly been sighted, this time by hikers in Spokane, Washington.  The good news is that the sighting was filmed, the bad news is that the footage is again grainy,  unclear, and taken from a distance.   The hikers hadn’t even realized what they had come across until they went home and examined their footage, which was taken on an iPhone at Downriver Park along the Spokane river.  The unexplained…creature?…appears in the background at some distance from the hikers.

As to whether this is yet another elaborate hoax, a case of mistaken identity, or the real deal is unclear, but the walk of the unexplained creature appears well done…

Categories: anomalies, cryptozoology, unexplained, unidentified
Tags: ,

Comments: 2 Comments

“Mongo-D” for Short…

May 8, 2011

 – – I, for one, find it easy to obsess over Mongolian Death Worms;  they are reputedly large,  homicidal red worms that spew fiery acid, burrow in one of the world’s largest and coldest deserts,  can reportedly electrocute unlucky things like camels and goat-herders from a distance, and for a finale, explode when they get angry! –What’s not to like, Mongo-D has it all!

Certain aspects of the biology of the Mongolian Death Worm are not unfamiliar; big worms are not uncommon, with Australia hosting earthworms that can reach five foot lengths.  Spitting acid is also fairly common among arthropods, to say nothing of my former supervisors.  Intestinal worms can also bring down an animal, although they need to be inside it to perform that feat.  It’s when you combine all of these attributes that you get a really cool, otherworldly-type of cryptid!

The subject of investigations by Destination Truth and even National Geographic,  the Mongolian Death Worm has never been found, leaving us only with eyewitness testimonies about them and at least one really bad movie…

Categories: anomalies, creature features, cryptozoology, unexplained, unidentified, weird
Tags: , ,

Comments: 1 Comment

Cartoon Cryptids

May 2, 2011

 – – Gossamer is a hulking, hairy reddish monster somewhat reminiscent of Bigfoot who is part of the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies universe.  He wears enormous tennis shoes,  and has a heart-shaped face in which may be seen oval eyes and a wide mouth.  Beyond these features and dirty clawed fingers, little else may be discerned about Gossamer, whose primary characteristic is the trademark hair; indeed, Gossamer may be made entirely of hair!   He is anything but gossamer, a name referring to a delicate type of spider silk.

First appearing in the 1946 film Hair-Raising Hare, Gossamer was the henchman of a mad scientist who bears a strong resemblance to Peter Lorre; if you don’t know who that is, you don’t watch enough old classic films !  Anyways,  Bugs Bunny is lured by a mechanical female rabbit to the lair of the mad scientist to be a meal for Gossamer, but makes merry sport of the monster instead (“I’m always interested in meeting interesting people!,” Bugs tells the creature while working on his nails).  Gossamer is revealed to be frightened of people, who it must be admitted can be pretty frightening. 

Originally nameless, Gossamer was referred to as Rudolph in a 1952 short, and didn’t land the name Gossamer until such was bestowed on him by none less than Marvin the Martian in the 1980 Duck Dodgers feature.  Gossamer has enjoyed small roles in a number of Warner Bros. productions since…

Categories: animal oddities, anomalies, cartoons, furry, imaginary animals, weird
Tags: , ,

Comments: 1 Comment

Thumb Fun, Eh?

March 6, 2011

– – Jimmy the cat is a polydactyl cat, sometimes referred to as a Hemingway cat because the writer Ernest Hemingway grew to love them after being given a six-toed cat.  Extra digits are a fairly common physical anomaly that’s sometimes caused by a genetic defect.  With an extra toe, Jimmy the cat can give the famous thumbs-up gesture made famous by the Henry Winkler super-cool character Fonzie on the 1970’s show “Happy Days.” He’s currently enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame on youtube.

The official Guinness World Record holder for the cat with the most digits is Jake, a Canadian cat with 27 digits.  A 29-toed cat from Hoboken in the U.S. named Bandit is in the process of applying for recognition…

Categories: animal oddities, animals, anomalies, cool things, furry
Tags: , ,

Comments: 5 Comments

Cross-Eyed Heidi…

January 15, 2011

– – Not to be confused with Cross-Eyed Mary,  Heidi is a cross-eyed opossum who lives at the Leipzig Zoo in Germany.  Originally from Denmark, Heidi is both adorable and cross-eyed, a condition which would make her more vulnerable to predators in the wilderness.

Heidi is not in any danger at the zoo, however, and her optical flaw is painless while of unknown origin.  She follows in the legacy of other adored and well-known German animals that have recently included Paul the psychic octopus (RIP) and Knut the polar bear…

…Heidi should not be confused with cats that look like Hitler…

 

Categories: animal oddities, animals, anomalies, furry
Tags: ,

Comments: 2 Comments

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »