Most people think they’re creepy, but flying mammals are quite beneficial. Recent federal research shows how big an impact the Mexican free-tailed bats, the most commom bat found in the southern U.S., have on farms, agriculture and life in the state of Texas. These bug-eaters save farmers millions of dollars in avoided pesticide costs and better crop yields, the study shows. (more…)

Remember the 1,100-pound “wild” hog the 11-year old Alabama boy bagged with his trusty pistol? Well, this story needed a little more rooting around to get to the truth. In reality, every once in a while somebody kills a really big hog, enters it into a contest and its registers roughly 300 to 400 pounds, but most truly wild hogs will struggle to reach 150 pounds. (more…)

A 9-foot alligator was shot and killed by a game warden on the outskirts of San Antonio because the reptile appeared to have lost its fear of humans, authorities said. Several 911 calls alerted police to an alligator in an area near a lake and an apartment complex, police said. When the game warden arrived early Thursday, the gator had crawled off the road near a ditch. (more…)

The Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located west of Freeport near Jones Creek in Brazoria County. The Area has 10,311 acres which were purchased using waterfowl stamp funds from 1985 to 1987. In 1988, an additional 1,627 acres were acquired as mitigation from the Brazos River Harbor District. Justin Hurst WMA is a part of the Central Coast Wetlands Ecosystem Project (Central Coast Wetlands Ecosystem Project (CCWEP). The CCWEP’s mission is to provide for sound biological conservation of all wildlife resources within the central coast of Texas for the public’s common benefit. (more…)

An angler looking to bring home some catfish for dinner was a bit freaked out when he reeled in a fish that flashed its “grill” and bit his knife. Jerry Melton, 46, was fishing in the Catawba River last week when he caught what state wildlife officials later identified as a piranha, a South American carnivorous fish that lives in freshwater. (more…)

An empty can of gourmet dog food taken from Paris Hilton’s trash fetched $305 in an eBay auction. The sellers were from the Web site HollywoodStarTrash.com, which also listed several other Hilton items for sale on eBay. A used toothbrush sold for $305; two envelopes sent to her while she was in jail sold for $510; and a Coke can pulled from her trash went for $51. (more…)

A baby gorilla from a German zoo was treated at a children’s clinic after her mother’s neglect left her dangerously dehydrated, zoo officials said. Six-week-old Mary Two, who also was suffering from hypothermia, was admitted to the intensive care unit at the University of Muenster’s clinic on Saturday and discharged a day later. (more…)