"Vicious" piranhas are really wimps

Rather than aggressive killers, research shows piranhas are omnivorous scavengers, eating mainly fish, plants and insects, Anne Magurran of Scotland's University of St Andrews said.

"Previously it was thought piranhas shoaled as it enabled them to form a cooperative hunting group. However, we have found that it is primarily a defensive behaviour," she said.

Piranhas face constant attack from predators including river dolphins, caiman -- a relative of the crocodile -- and bigger fish, such as the giant piracucu.

"Their cautious behaviour is crucial to avoid being eaten," Magurran said.

Resort workers free frantic bear cub

A baby black bear found itself in a tight spot yesterday when its head got stuck in a plastic jug.

Workers at the Mount Washington resort in Bretton Woods raced to the rescue when the little bear came staggering by the golf course about 8:30 a.m., its entire head enveloped in a translucent plastic container.

"He couldn't see where he was going, and he was running around in circles, pretty wild," said Dan DeMaio, a security officer at the hotel.

Pig E Bank - Electronic Bank with LCD

Electronic Piggy Bank
The Pig E Bank Electronic Bank with LCD teaches children the value of money. Deposit coins and listen to the Pig E Bank tell you the total! This pig is a hungry animal; in his polished silver color he really makes a great appearance. Kids learn about the denomination of coins and the LCD screen keeps track of the total. Pig E Bank loves to talk and he always wants more!

Animal Cocktail Picks

Animal Cocktail Picks (set of 6)

Consider these Animal Cocktail Picks for your next party. Each set comes with six cocktail picks with a matching holder. Comes in three different styles. Your guests will be delighted!

3 pigs still have a Lake Forest home

A Chicago-area judge has upheld Estelle Walgreen's right to keep three pigs on her suburban property despite a petition from 300 neighbors about the smell.

Walgreen, moved into the house on 2.3 acres of land in Lake Forest, Ill., last year after her divorce from a member of the Walgreens drugstore family, along with two 200-pound teenage pigs named Pinky and Piggy. She has since acquired a 2-year-old pig named Cooper, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Tuesday, Circuit Judge Mitchell Hoffman frustrated Walgreen's neighbors and upheld the City Council's decision to allow the pigs to remain until at least 2011 when an ordinance regulating farm animals takes effect.