PICTON, New Zealand-An American tourist died while swimming with dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds this morning. The 27-year-old woman was on a Dolphin Watch EcoTours trip. She was found face down in the water after jumping in with a group of swimmers who came half way across the world to swim with the friendly dolphins. "We come here to support the dolphins," said EcoTours owner Skylar Brindle, adding, "The one who killed this woman just didn't understand that." But Marine Biologist Stephanie Miyakoshi has another idea. "Male dolphins know when a female is ovulating and get very excited and aggressive. When 400 pounds of dolphin rubs up against 115 pounds of land-based human, you might have problems."

YOSEMITE, California- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suggests you leave your minivan home on your next camping trip. Minivans are the No. 1 target of break-ins by hungry bears in California's Yosemite National Park. Stewart Breck of the National Wildlife Research Center, said "It may have something to do with children leaving crumbs and spilled juice boxes in there which draws in the bears, from the scent. Then bears see a cooler in the back and they know a turkey sandwich is just a little demolition work away." Bears can bend car frames and smash glass with ease, but with a minivan they don’t have to bother. "They'll put their claws into the edge of the window and pop it open," Breck says. "In fact, VW Microbuses are their favorites. They'll bust open a Microbus just for kicks. Or, the pot." Bears in Yosemite normally subsist on a diet of acorns, berries, grasses and herbs. Why munch acorns when you can chow down on cookies, granola bars and toothpaste? "They sure do seem to like what we humans have," said the biologist.

BAYVIEW, Texas- Steve Hoyland and friends, Bruce, Eric and Ken, went for an overnight fishing trip from which they almost didn't return. About 3AM, Steve and Bruce were on deck, drinking beer and fishing, when Steve's line when reeling and after a 20 minute battle, he hauled in a six foot, 100 pound eel. Once on the boat the eel repeatedly coiled and attacked, like a rattlesnake. "This thing just went wild on us," said the astonished fisherman. "And when something when that many teeth coils and strikes at you, at 3AM, after all that beer... well, that's just one weird night." The eel flopped down the steps to the below deck and landed right between Ken and Erik, who were sound asleep. When Erik turned on the light Ken was face to face with the coiled eel. Erik was about to shoot the eel with a 9mm pistol but Steve shouted that shooting a gun on the boat, and towards Erik's face, would both be bad ideas. Retreating to the deck the friends decided to come up with a plan and drink more beer. Their plan, included Steve, because he had consumed the most beer, opening the sliding door to go below but out burst the eel, jumping up two steps, snapping at anything in its path. The four men ran to the wheelhouse and admit screaming like little girls. Safe inside, they decided to drink more beer. Finally they came out, covered the sea monster with a blanket and beat it with an ice chest lid, fire extinguishers and the gaff. Once subdued, they put the eel in a big ice chest and collapsed to the deck, exhausted. And drank more beer. Moments later, the lid popped off the ice chest and the monster that would not die came roaring out, sending Bruce backpedaling across the deck while the sea devil snapped at his crotch. Fire extinguishers and other objects were again employed and the eel was staggered enough to be be put back into the ice chest. This time the men decided to tie the lid down. And then, drink more beer.

OJAI, California- The last thing California needs is another wildfire, especially one started intentionally. But that is just what Ventura County Fire Crew commander Dan Brown thinks he saw this week, a fire started intentionally by a deer. "I was patrolling a fire road and stopped when I noticed a deer violently pawing at something. My first thought was it was a rattle snake, but I couldn't see anything on the ground yet the deer kept pounding away and then I noticed tiny sparks flying off the rocks each time the hooves hit and then the brush flamed up and the deer took off."

ABBE CADEBRA, New Mexico- Ducky O' Toole was tired of thieves picking on his auto repair shop so he spread the rumor around the neighborhood that a rare breed of New Mexico Lion was guarding his business at night. Break-ins stopped completely. Finally a frightened neighbor called authorities to look into the situation. O' Toole isn't saying exactly where his dog, Carrot Top, has gone but city inspectors say they will not be looking any further into the situation. O' Toole said, "I'm not saying thieves tend to be idiots, but..."

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan- It seemed Doby the bird dog was eating his food because the bowl was always emptied but was also losing weight and no longer interested in hunting pheasants. Was he getting old? Was he sick? Owner Derek Dominus knew he'd put his beloved companion down before he'd watch Doby suffer through a painful disease. Finally Dominus stuck around after filling Doby's bowl out on the deck and within moments a skunk ambled out, showed his back side to Doby who backed off and watched the skunk eat his meal. Doby is now being fed indoors and back to hunting birds.

BEAUFORT, South Carolina- A 77-year-old man has lost his lower arm after he was bitten by an alligator on a coastal South Carolina golf course. The man was picking up his ball when a 10-foot alligator pulled him into a nearby pond. The man's golf partners were able to free him and later, workers from Wildlife Control killed the alligator and removed the man's arm. Doctors at Medical University of South Carolina hope to reattach the severed forearm and hand. Course Professional Rich C. Jonhson said, once the golfer is able to get back out on the course, he will be allowed to resume his round, dropping a new ball within two club lengths from the spot of the attack, no nearer the hole.

LAKELAND, Florida- A 74-year-old woman was hospitalized after being mauled by a pack of raccoons she tried to shoo from her yard. Gretchen Whitted fell when five raccoons surrounded and attacked, suffering extensive cuts from her neck to her legs. "We're not talking about a lot of little bites here," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "She was filleted." Fire crews flooded nearby drains where some of the animals escaped, but none turned up. Animal Control officers hope to catch them in traps baited with wet cat food and sardines, which they usually prefer to 74-year-old women.

BERLIN, Germany- Officials at a German zoo say that a male brown bear attacked and killed a female bear in front of horrified onlookers. Christopher Langner, director of the zoo, said they're still trying to determine why the male, named Balou, attacked the female, Klara. Zoo keepers note, other than being male and female, the only difference between the two bears behaviorally was that Klara seemed to like humans.

CERRO AZUL, Panama- At a waterfall near the town of Cerro Azul a group of teens were playing when a large hairless mystery creature shuffled out from a cave behind the waterfall. The creature approached the boys who began throwing rocks at the monster. When it stopped moving the boys threw it in the ocean and ran to tell authorities. Experts are not sure what the animal may be but some wondered aloud, if Earth has been visited by aliens, could they have brought their pets and did one run away and hide in a cave.