Weekly Weird News for 24 June 2022

Flying, falling, and catching on fire

WHEW! What a week in weird news! I have so much to share that I’m relieved to finally be able to publish it all.

The yucky truth about the Texarkana Fish Rain

I finally contributed to a weird news story! In the 31 December edition of this newsletter, I linked to multiple news stories about the Texarkana fish rain. Many fish (possibly hundreds) fell across a wide area of Texarkana, Texas (and even over on the Arkansas side). Paul Cropper, an anomalies researcher, clued me in on the story and I started working with him to publish the results of his investigation. That article is finally out in the July issue of Fortean Times. We conclude that the most probable explanation for the fish rain is that the flocks of cormorants regurgitated freshly consumed shad as they were stressed out by the heavy rain and hail. I know, I know… it seems bizarre. But check out our evidence! If you can’t nab the print copy of FT, you can get some additional info and visuals via my website.

The news is getting around, slowly. I sent a press release to those news outlets in Texas that initially reported the story. So far, a few Texas-based media sources have posted the update. But it’s nothing like the original story that went international and was covered by many major outlets. Maybe people are too grossed out by it or they really didn’t want the answer to the mystery. Regardless, it HAS a decent answer and now you know it! Stories appeared in: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2022/06/22/scientists-figured-out-why-fish-fell-from-the-sky-in-texarkana-and-its-pretty-gross/ and https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2022/jun/22/study-shows-last-years-texarkana-fish-rain-was/ and https://www.audacy.com/krld/news/state/sleuths-think-they-know-what-caused-texarkana-fish-fall

If that doesn’t look like something the bird barfed up, I don’t know what does.

If the sources are paywalled, install a Java Script blocker extension on your browser and disable java to read the article. It usually works.

Giant stingray is real monster

Move over giant catfish, the Mekong River has a new record giant fish - a 661 lb stingray! The giant stingray (Urogymnus polylepis) appears to be the largest freshwater fish ever caught. It was nabbed by a fisherman in Cambodia who notified researchers who tagged and then released it. The giant fish indicates that this environment is still healthy and may hold more huge discoveries. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61862169

Giant Burmese python documented in Florida

In another clear sign that no one should be moving to Florida, biologists captured a huge, pregnant Burmese python in the Everglades back in December. They released the results of the necropsy this week. Weighing 215 pounds and nearly 18 feet long, the female was carrying 122 eggs. The capture was documented by Nat Geo. This was the largest snake of this kind ever captured in Florida (and I’m wondering if that would be in the U.S. as well since they aren’t native or thriving like this in any other state*). Because the snake was wild and invasive, it was humanly killed. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has removed more than 1,000 pythons from this part of the state. https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-snakes-florida-wildlife-ea64bee707d0c09db2e721a174b3e0c4

*If anyone knows of a larger specimen of any habituated species that was caught in the wild in the US, please include in comments. 

A grouchy snake might bite your face off

A woman in Kentucky was bitted in the face by a (non-venomous) snake that was hanging on her outside door decoration. The 3 ft snake lashed out as the woman went to open the door. It happened so fast, she said, she didn’t have time to register that it was a live snake and she got too close. https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local-woman-bit-in-face-by-snake-that-was-cooling-off-on-her-door/article_5b68de22-ed00-11ec-8d9b-9fbfaeacba7c.html

Swirly space

Another weird sky swirl was spotted, this time in New Zealand. It’s not the first time a spooky spiral appeared in the sky. Now, people are more aware of what it might be - rocket exhaust, and not a portal to another dimension. The location and features matched up with a Space X rocket in a dying stage. The rocket spins and vents fuel, creating the luminous feature. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/technology/2022/06/mysterious-glowing-swirl-spotted-above-new-zealand-the-truth-revealed.html

Hot in Cleveland!

Clubbers out on a Saturday night witnessed quite a scene in Ohio. Viral video showed a seemingly apocalyptic scene with the caption that it was from Cleveland! To my surprise, when I saw the clip I immediately was able to confirm it was genuine. The ground-level flames surrounded the people and were being whipped by a strong wind. The landscape mulch had caught fire, likely by a dropped cigarette. About 20 separate areas had caught fire in the Flats area of downtown Cleveland. There were no damages or injuries noted. https://fox8.com/news/disaster-movie-vibe-witnesses-recall-fire-in-the-flats-sparked-by-cigarette/

Fire birds

New scientific research suggests that birds electrocuted on power lines fall to the ground and start wildfires. A new analysis says more than three dozen fires may have been started this way from 2014 to 2018 in the US alone. Humans, lightning, and the hot sun are more likely to cause the start of fires in dry areas but large birds whose wings span the lines and induce a current will die from the shock and can certainly spark a blaze if their feathers catch on fire and they fall on dry vegetation. https://www.science.org/content/article/electrocuted-birds-are-sparking-wildfires 

Eagles bamboozled

A pair of bald eagles have adopted a baby red-tailed hawk in British Columbia. It’s possible the baby bird was destined to be their meal but when delivered to the nest, it began to beg for food, and instinct kicked in - the adults began to feed it. A wildlife volunteer says she saw the incident happen. The eagles had lost a chick and so had extra room in the nest. This kind of surrogate parenting has happened before in 2017, also in B.C. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-monday-edition-1.6495076/an-eagle-snatched-a-baby-hawk-for-dinner-then-ended-up-adopting-it-1.6495246

Stranger tides

Boat operators in west Cork, Ireland witnessed the tide going the wrong way, rushing out of the harbor when it should have been coming in. The harbor water levels dropped rapidly before flooding again. Observers thought it might be a tsunami. In other nearby locations, witnesses noticed a tidal bore coming in. Unusual tidal fluctuations were noted along the coast. There was a small earthquake near the Azores that some thought might account for the tide but the coastguard concluded it was related to strong winds and a high tide or what is called a meteotsunami - when sudden changes in atmospheric pressure create a seiche.  https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/expert-explains-likely-cause-bizarre-24271762

Don’t it turn my blonde hair brown?

An experimental gene therapy that modified blood cells in those suffering from cystinosis had a strange effect - it caused the patient’s hair to grow back a darker color. Surprised researchers discovered that the change indicates the treatment is working. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/06/experimental-gene-therapy-cystinosis-hair-color/661348/

Spiky blond

A woman riding an all-terrain four-wheeler northeast of Syracuse, NY noticed a light-colored animal walking along train tracks. She initially thought it was a puppy. It was an albino porcupine. The animal eventually ambled into the woods. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article262615977.html

Mystery bunker to be demolished

Someone built a “bunker” in a Michigan state forest area. The structure is illegal and looks like it was recently built for nefarious purposes. The state police don’t intend to follow up on the illegal construction but will dismantle it. https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/mysterious-bunker-found-in-rogue-river-state-game-area/

Dangerous and historic find at Vero Beach

A possible land mine from the 1930s was spotted on a Florida beach. The Navy said the area was used as a training grounds back in the 40s. Similar discoveries have been made over the years. None have detonated inadvertently, it appears. Well, not officially. https://www.wptv.com/news/treasure-coast/region-indian-river-county/old-military-equipment-found-on-indian-river-county-beach

People want to be mermaids

In a time of severe social distress, some people seek a retreat in fantasy. This may partly explain the growing “mermaid” culture where people slip into fish tales and go for a swim. The mermaid communities are particularly accepting of transgender people who find adopting this alternate lifestyle for a while is freeing. You can even take a class in how to be a mermaid. https://apnews.com/article/canada-sydney-621e29ea1810b66da54684aa6a1da4b7

Texas blue dog appears again

Homeowners near Grapevine Lake in Texas have an unusual animal visiting. The Cooley family’s neighbors say it’s a chupacabra, but, as reported dozens of times before, it is really a mangy and very sick canid (maybe coyote, maybe dog). It didn’t look or act like a coyote initially and resembles the animal killed in Cuero, Texas in 2007 - with a thick head and blue eyes. That animal was determined to be a coyote with mange. But the several sightings of these animals often include mention of an overbite which may lead to an inability to eat properly. Subsequently, the animal becomes susceptible to diseases. Several incidents of these weird animals with bluish skin led some cryptozoologists to call them “Texas blue dogs”. The many similar sightings in the area may indicate something weird going on with a subpopulation of animals. https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/article262706432.html

Return of Jet Pack Man

In the past few years, there had been repeated reports by pilots at Los Angeles airport (LAX) of what appeared to be a human figure flying with a jetpack. The subsequent investigations never identfied a person or a drone but there were documented humanoid balloons that were repeatedly spotted. On Thursday, at 2:45 in the afternoon, an American Airlines pilot reported another sighting of what’s been dubbed “Jet Pack Man” upon approach 15 miles east of LAX at 4,500 feet elevation. The most logical explanation for this is certainly an errant balloon. Mylar balloons also account for many UFO/UAP sightings because they can float to great heights and reflect sunlight in a striking way. However, those who are invested in more dramatic explanations for these sightings (aliens, advanced jet pack technology, etc.) ignore the logical explanations. https://abc7.com/lax-jetpack-pilot-drone/11991998/ (Watch the news video)

Was there a roadrunner nearby?

Three cars ended up at the bottom a cliff in New Mexico. How they got there is a mystery. The cars were not traceable and they may have been there for a while. The cars were airlifted out of the critical habitat area because they were a nuisance. It is assumed they were pushed over the cliff in the Bluewater Canyon area. https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article262628572.html

Thanks for reading!

Livestream!

Join me for a livestream on Kenny Biddle’s Skeptical Help Bar on Friday night (June 24) from 8-10 eastern time. You can join the livestream from this link on Facebook. Or watch on YouTube. We’ll talk about the fish fall, spooky geology, and lots of other weird stuff.