Animals

Wile E. Coyote isn't the smartest mutt in the game ... as proved by a Midwestern coyote going viral for its daring supermarket break-in.

Check it out ... police officers responded to an Aldi grocery store in a Chicago neighborhood after a wild animal made its way into one of the upright display coolers Monday. Onlookers are quick to assume the unwanted guest is a raccoon or a possum -- since both creatures are known for being pesty scavengers.

The surprise shopper is none other than a coyote, however ... and two officers poke and prod the deli section with brooms.

The Game is stepping up big time -- pushing forward with his animal rescue mission amid the L.A. wildfires and sharing heartbreaking pics of animals caught in the devastation.

The rapper shared on IG Monday how it’s a miracle some animals survived the fires, especially after seeing the destruction left behind in fire-ravaged areas.

The Game says he teamed up with wildlife rescue nonprofit Cleo’s Critter Care, bringing food and water for the animals, hoping to gain their trust and get them to a shelter where they can hopefully reunite with their owners.

The Pacific Palisades wildfire has torn apart so much of the affluent West L.A. neighborhood forever ... but, it couldn't tear apart this owner and his dog -- 'cause the two found their way back to each other Sunday.

Here's the deal ... Liz Kreutz -- an NBC News correspondent covering the devastating fires in L.A. -- shared a clip Sunday monring showing a man named Casey Colvin returning to his block in Pacific Palisades to look for his dog.

Apparently, someone spotted this dog -- named Oreo -- in the rubble and called Casey down to the area ... and, the two enjoyed a tearful reunion.

A man in Florida was arrested last month after cops allege he made sexual contact with a horse and tried to put his penis in its nose.

TMZ has obtained the arrest affidavit for Donald Calloway ... a 53-year-old man who was arrested on December 26 in Lake Wales, FL.

According to the document ... police say they received a call about alleged sexual activities involving an animal. Cops say an unnamed witness told them she saw a man masturbating next to the head of a 28-year-old horse named Raven.

Deadly L.A. wildfires have destroyed homes and businesses this week ... and the massive blazes have also upended local ecosystems to a horrifying degree.

Jeff Corwin tells TMZ ... right now the focus of the fires is -- properly -- on people dying and homes turned to ash. But, domestic and wild animals have also been severely affected in this "unprecedented catastrophe."

The famed biologist host points out there's only 350 California condors left in existence … “and a significant portion of the population lives in ground zero of the Palisades fires” -- so there is a chance they could end up nearly wiped out.

The NYC subway’s rat race is alive and well -- just ask the one who was caught carting around a king-size Reese’s like it was the Holy Grail.

Check out this clip caught by a commuter -- this rat didn’t just find the sweet treat lying around ... he pulled it out of a trash pile, then lugged it across the tracks like he owned the place.

Who knows if the rat was out for solo candy glory or planning to share the sweet loot with his squad, but either way, that was one bold move!

The Pasadena Humane Society is rushing to the aid of Los Angeles animals ... sharing photos of different critters receiving treatment for injuries sustained in one of the huge fires.

The shelter shared photos of a dog, cats and even a wild bird its staff tended to ... noting each needed treatment for burns sustained in the Eaton Fire -- the blaze burning out in east Los Angeles.

Check out the pics ... the animals look exhausted -- sporting singed paws and burns on their bodies. The Pasadena Humane Society says the dog was dehydrated and one of the cats in the photos is resting in an oxygen kennel -- the consequence of smoke inhalation.

4:00 PM PT -- Whitney Cummings says she's most worried about losing her podcast studio to the devastating fires ... sharing video of the moment she decided to pack up and leave her home.

9:19 AM PT -- Whitney Cummings confirms she has reluctantly evacuated due to the speed of the fire ... saying she wanted to stay as long as possible to avoid adding to the clogged traffic, but she couldn't wait any longer. "This changes everything forever."

The apocalyptic wildfires in Los Angeles are putting horses in danger ... and Whitney Cummings is sharing tips for how to get the animals to safety.

Lots of folks keep horses in the areas going up in flames and dramatic new footage shows people going into the teeth of the Eaton Fire in Altadena to rescue their steeds ... leading them away from the blaze.

Whitney's trying her best to help ... sharing resources for equine evacuations and telling folks to tag her on social media if they need help finding a place to house their horses.

A Texas teenager has been charged with animal cruelty  ... this after cops say she poisoned another student's show goat.

Aubrey Vanlandingham was arrested late last month and charged with cruelty to livestock animals ... after police say they saw security footage of her giving toxic pesticide to a classmate's goat using a drench gun -- a tool generally used to administer medicine to goats and other farm animals.

Prosecutors say the goat -- named Willie -- died about a day after he was allegedly given the toxic pesticide ... experiencing symptoms like convulsions and respiratory distress before ultimately passing away. They allege Vanlandingham did "intentionally and knowingly torture a livestock animal."

Dogs are known as a man's best friend, but not for one Delta Air Lines passenger who says he got booted from his first-class seat by a service animal.

After his annoying experience, the passenger posted a pic of the furry pooch on Reddit and ranted about what happened to him.

Under the user name @ben_bob, he told others in a forum he was upgraded to first class before his flight only to be downgraded 15 minutes later to a "worst seat than I previously had."

Britney Spears has a new bed companion ... no, not a model with rock-hard abs -- it's actually a stuffed rabbit she brought back from Mexico.

The singer-songwriter left Cabo, Mexico to get back to Los Angeles Thursday -- bringing her new furry friend back from south of the border.

She's holding her new pal tight in Mexico -- covering up most of her face with it while adding a black hat and dark sunglasses to her look.

Tom Brady got in a swole sesh with his dawgs this week -- and we mean that literally ... with the seven-time Super Bowl champion taking his furry pals to the gym in Miami!!

The legendary quarterback and FOX Sports analyst was out and about in Florida ... with his four-legged friends in tow as he left a workout.

Speaking of legs, it's clear TB12 ain't neglecting his lower limbs ... 'cause he put his chiseled gams on full display as he rocked a pair of black short shorts.

Crumbs, the world's fattest cat, sadly passed away in October ... and now we're learning more details about how the furball died.

The orange tabby suffered from heart disease caused by his obesity -- an autopsy showed he had acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema. That's a life-threatening condition resulting from the build-up of fluid in the lungs due to increased heart pressure, according to multiple news outlets in Russia, where Crumbs lived.

At the time of his death, it was speculated he passed from some complication of excess weight, though tumors were also reportedly found on his spleen and other organs.

Anyone who yucked Xavier Legette's yum needs to reconsider ... 'cause celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern tells TMZ Sports eating raccoon is actually quite delightful.

The host of "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" (what a fitting title for a topic like this) weighed in on the Panthers receiver's shocking reveal this week ... when he disclosed on a podcast he enjoyed some trash panda on Thanksgiving.

Zimmern is siding all the way with the South Carolina native ... who claimed raccoons don't taste like chicken, but possess a very distinct flavor.

American Airlines passengers had a foul flight Thursday ... when a fowl flew into a jet engine turbine and caused an emergency landing -- and, it was all caught on video.

Here's the deal ... Flight 1722 took off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City Thursday -- when a bird almost immediately flew headlong into the turbine, causing a minor fireball to appear on the side of the plane.

Watch the clip ... the bird hurtles toward the jet and smacks into the engine -- making a huge thumping noise and seemingly causing engine strain as the plane pitches slightly to the side.

Bella Hadid fans have certainly backed the right horse by supporting her ... 'cause she proved herself at the rodeo -- winning Rookie of the Year this week!

The model shared several pictures of her new title ... sitting atop a horse with a cowboy hat, tight blue jeans and fringe pants on.

In her hand, Bella holds a golden belt buckle, bearing the words "Rookie of the Year" and the acronym "NCHA" -- National Cutting Horse Association.