Critter Country

Pity the poor animal — rarely does anything good happen to him in the realm of urban legends. If he isn’t the object of some unfortunate mishap, he’s being treated cruelly, causing a calamity, being unceremoniously disposed of, or forming the main course of someone’s meal. And when the animal’s turn to be the star of the story comes, it’s usually because he’s attacked some unsuspecting human being. Since we like to provide our readers with all the creature comforts of home, we’ve given our friendly critters their due and included a fair share of tales that highlight the lighter side of the animal kingdom as well.

Menu Foods Pet Food Recall Menu Foods has recalled some of its pet food after dogs and cats suffered kidney...

Pedigree Dog Food Wire Warning

EverPet Dog Food Rumor: EverPet brand dog and cat food is made in China and has killed several...

Is Freya the Walrus Sinking Boats in Norway? She just needs a place to relax.

True

A video supposedly showed a snake standing up and raising its head and was possibly a king cobra or black mamba in Malaysia, India, Zimbabwe, or another country.

Does Video Show a ‘Snake Standing Up,’ Raising Its Head? Social media commenters on Facebook and Reddit hypothesized that the snake in the video was...

True

Are Orcas Not a Whale, But Actually a Dolphin?

Are Orcas Not Whales But Dolphins? Dubbed the “killer whale,” orcas have mouths full of dozens of interlocking, 3-inch teeth.

Mixture

What’s Up with This Crab Meets ‘Symbiote’ Video? And if you think this is interesting, check out penis fencing (more on that below).

Mixture

Is This Bug with Wings That Look Like Stained Glass Real? The iridescent wings on the insect give it a surreal look.

True

Do Cedar Waxwing Birds Die When Their Mates Do? Killing two birds with one ... window?

False

Pictures, videos, and a meme showed that a dog named Negro once knew how to present a leaf for a cookie at a school in Monterrey, Colombia.

Did Negro the Colombian Dog Pay for Cookies with Leaves? This is the true story of a very good boy.

True

Does This Photo Show a Tasselled Wobbegong?

Does This Pic Show a Real Animal Called a ‘Carpet Shark’? The so-called “carpet shark,” or tasseled wobbegong, is said to inhabit shallow coral reefs near...

Mixture

Do Some Woodpeckers Store Acorns in Specialized Tree Holes? Some trees are said to have up to 50,000 holes in them, bored by generations...

True