The Creepiest Animal Casualties Ever (PHOTOS)

Mass Animal Deaths: The Creepiest Casualties Ever (PHOTOS)

The Huffington Post   |  Joanna Zelman First Posted: 01- 6-11 02:10 PM   |   Updated: 01- 7-11 05:56 PM

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Read More: Animal Suicide, Birds And Fish Dying, Birds Dying, Birds Fall From Sky, Birds Falling From The Sky,Bizarre Animal Deaths, Mass Animal Deaths, Mass Animals Dying, Massive Animal Deaths, Slidepollajax, Strange Animal Deaths, Why Are Birds Dying, Green News

While it seems pretty creepy that thousands of dead birds are falling out of the sky, millions of dead fish are turning up, and tens of thousands of dead crabs are littering beaches, it turns out these aren't the only bizarremass animal deaths that have occurred over the years.

In fact, compared to a doggie death bridge, exploding frogs, and the extinction of 50% of life on Earth, these past few weeks pale in comparison. We've listed a few of the creepiest mass animal deaths that have occurred throughout history. And the next time you hear of birds falling from the sky, just be grateful it's not raining frogs again.

Dogs Over The Bridge

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In the past fifty years, 50 to 600 dogs have jumped over Scotland’s Overtoun Bridge and plummeted to their deaths. A few years ago, five dogs jumped in under six months. The Daily Mail wrote an article featuring reports of horrified pet owners who walked their dog over the bridge, when suddenly the dog would, without warning, leap over the bridge, falling 50 ft to the rocky bottom below. Perhaps even more disturbing, there are reports of “second timers” – of the few dogs who have survived the fall, some jumped over the same bridge again. 

Many theories have circulated about why dogs react this way to the bridge. Some suggest that the dogs are deliberately committing suicide, perhaps due to depression in their owners or even a supernatural force. More recent research suggests that it may be the scent of minks, an animal known to live under the bridge. 

Whatever the explanation may be, perhaps dog owners should simply stop walking their dogs over the Overtoun Bridge. 

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55 Buffalo Die Mysteriously

55 buffalo die mysteriously on southern Cayuga County farm

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Justin Murphy The Citizen | Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 10:32 am | (8) Comments

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Sempronius buffalo farmer Peter Head has lost 55 animals to a mysterious illness since October, but autopsies have shown no clear cause of death.

"We're going nuts down here trying to figure out what's going on," he said. "This is going to put me out of business. That's half my frickin' herd."

Head and his wife Deborah have run PDH Buffalo Farm on Route 41A for nine years. This year, 17 of his 23 calves died and he has stopped selling meat as a precaution.

"I don't want to be selling buffalo meat when I don't know what's going on here," he said.

Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine conducted necropsies on several of the carcasses but found only dehydration, Head said.

Ron Podolak of the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District said there is no indication that disease is spreading to neighboring farms.

"In my career, I don't remember anything quite like this," Podolak said. "There's die-offs, but usually they can determine what it is right away and treat them. ... I just wish there was something more we could do to help Pete. This is a catastrophic loss for him."

The SWCD is conducting water samples from springs on the farm, but the results have not yet come back, Head said.

For more details, see Friday's edition of The Citizen.