Avian flu prompts Dallas Zoo to close bird exhibits

Several Dallas Zoo exhibits will be closed and popular birds like the African penguins and flamingos will be spending time away from public view because an outbreak of the avian flu in North Texas.

Egret hitches a ride on swimming alligator's back at Florida park

Why fly when you can just hitch a ride? That's exactly what one fearless great egret did at Gatorland in Orlando last month. Video recorded by Tiffanie Eden shows the intrepid bird perched on an alligator's back as it swam along in an exhibit at the central Florida attraction.

7-year-old boy pens sweet letters for future adopters of his foster dog

Roman Duncan, 7, wrote a series of letters to Maggie’s "new famuley" [sic] — the one that would eventually adopt the pup Roman and his parents were fostering. Roman wrote, "Maggie is so cute. Maggie loves to play fech [sic] … Maggie is the best dog ever."

Goats break into Alabama church

Deputies in Alabama said those responsible for a break-in at a church this week were some real animals.