Santa Monica city officials have said they will be giving squirrels a birth control shot in hopes of controlling the city's problem of squirrel overpopulation, which some health experts say is a public health risk. Officials will be injecting squirrels in Palisades Park with GonaCon, an immuno-contraceptive developed by the U.S. Department of Labor that stunts sexual development.

GonaCon stops female squirrels from ovulating and lactating and stops testicular development in male squirrels. Researchers say it takes about three months for the shots to show their effects.

A Dallas-bound American Airlines flight from Tokyo was forced to make an emergency landing in Honolulu after its pilots heard some noise in the cockpit; which later turned out to be a squirrel.

Airline spokesman John Hotard told The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the pilot made the decision to land midway as he feared that the animal could have chewed through wiring or caused other problems.

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.

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.