The reason behind a large number of power failures in Texas is not storms, thunder or rain. To the surprise of many people, it is the seemingly harmless squirrel. According to a report from the Austin Energy power company in Texas, almost 20 percent of all its power outages are caused by squirrels. The news, published in the Austin American-Statesman, says that the squirrels apparently come into contact with sensitive electrical equipment on utility poles, which can cause 700 area outages a year.

Weighing in at 1,502 pounds, a pumpkin owned by a Rhode Island farmer may set a new world record for the biggest pumpkin in the world. The pumpkin, weighed Saturday at the 13th annual Rhode Island Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Championship, exceeded the weight of last year's record-breaking pumpkin by slightly over 30 pounds. Ron Wallace, the man who grew the pumpkin, tells the AP, "Pumpkin growing is a lot of work and you just have to stick with it. "

All the street lights were turned off in the capital of Iceland and other towns so residents could go star gazing. The writer who came up with the idea was pleased with the outcome, even though rain and clouds obscured the view. Andri Snaer Magnason told Reuters, "All the streets lights are off, we can see a few stars. . . I would have liked to have a completely clear sky, but you can't have everything. But it was nice. "

Steve Weinkseldaum was arrested on Tuesday as agents from the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were led to his home on a tip that he was boarding wild animals. According to an AP report, agent Roy Gross said, "It appeared to be like I was walking into a rain forest" in his home, because "he had alligators stacked up. He had plants growing. It was tight to walk. "

Three Mexican shark fishermen claim that they survived more than nine months at sea in a small boat by eating raw fish and drinking rain water as they drifted thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean. The fishermen said they left their home town of San Blas on Mexico's Pacific coast last October to fish for sharks. But due to some mechanical problems at the boat and adverse winds they were blown towards the sea.