It's the Chinese Year of the Rat but it is unlikely the animal's status could be elevated above the sewer and loathsome level. Never mind that last year's hit film Ratatouille showed their humorous - and culinary - side and that Mickey Mouse and Tom and Jerry have been a long-time favorites.

To help keep its runway free from wildlife, an Italian airport spent $14,700 to employ a golden eagle to do the rather risky job. A spokesperson for the airport in the southern city of Bari, said they came up with the idea after a number of incidents had caused the runway had to be closed due to intrusions of - foxes.

A solo physician flying a one-seat plane across Mississippi had the shock of his flying career when he discovered a gray rattle snake aboard. Dr. Ed Carruth noticed the reptile as it began "licking" his arm.

Jiang Musheng from China's eastern Jiangxi Province was 26 years old when a man from his village recommended him to swallow live frogs as a remedy to his regular back and stomach pains. Initially hesitant, Musheng tried two of them and four decades later he is still eating them, though he has added some rodents to his menu. Now 66, Musheng believes that swallowing live frogs and mice has not only alleviated his pains, he reports feeling stronger and his health has improved according to a report in the Beijing News.

Hundreds of pigeons, rats and mice were rescued by the Toronto Humane Society on Sunday where they were holed up in an apartment without food or water. The smell of the animals' excrement is what drew the police and Humane Society to the 15th floor Bleeker Street apartment (Wellesley and Sherbourne).