That’s Outrageous

CATTLE POWER

A quiet stretch of British countryside turned chaotic when about 60 cows took over Hever railway station, an hour southeast of London. The horde – which marched across from a nearby farm – mobbed the platform, shocking onlookers and delaying train traffic by nearly an hour.

Tensions rose as at least one bovid tumbled from the platform back onto the tracks, but the entire herd was eventually persuaded to return to their pasture.

CREEPY CARRY-ON

On a United Airlines flight from Houston to Calgary in April 2017, an eight-legged stowaway made a grand entrance. Despite United’s strict passenger manifest, a scorpion – around six centimetres of undocumented legs, pincers and stinger – bided its time in the overhead compartment before plunging into passenger Richard Bell’s hair. Bell plucked the arachnid from his head and placed it on his seat-back tray, but when he tried to move the beast he was stung on the hand. Fellow passengers leaped into action: one crushed the attacker and another, a nurse, gave Bell anti-inflammatory medication. Scorpions are rarely dangerous to humans, but Bell received medical attention upon landing just in case. It seems that any poison carried must have been within security guidelines.

GROSS GARNISH

Earlier this year, one Florida couple discovered an unappetising bonus in their newly purchased pre-packaged salad: a tiny dead bat. Although North American bats are insectivores, the furry surprise was discovered nestled among the young leaves of a cos, rocket and radicchio spring mix.

The horrified customers sought treatment for rabies, but thankfully neither showed signs of infection. It was not clear how the creature wound up in what should be mammal-free fare.