Animals Behaving Badly

by Linda Lombardi

  Linden, Eugene, The Octopus and the Orangutan; More True Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity, Plume, 2003, p. 10.

  ———, The Parrot’s Lament, and Other True Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity, Dutton, 1999, p. 65, 145, 148.

  Lombardi, Linda, “Fireflies Shine Light on Insect Conservation,” AP, June 10, 2009. www.lindalombardi.com/storage/fireflies.pdf.

  Marshall, Michael, “Dogs Know That Stealth Pays When Your Eyes Are Averted,” New Scientist, July 24, 2010, www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727703.400-sneaky-dogs-take-food-quietly-to-avoid-getting-caught.html.

  McVeigh, Karen, “Sound Effect: How Cats Exploit the Human Need to Nurture,” Guardian (UK), July 14, 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/jul/13/cats-purr-food-research.

  Miyatake, Takahisa, Satoshi Nakayama, Yusuke Nishi, and Shuhei Nakajima, “Tonically Immobilized Selfish Prey Can Survive by Sacrificing Others,” Proceedings of the Royal Society Section B, April 29, 2009, doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0558.

  Møller, Anders P., “Deceptive Use of Alarm Calls by Male Swallows, Hirundo rustica: A New Paternity Guard,” Behavioral Ecology 1, no. 1 (1990): 1–6, doi:10.1093/beheco/ 1.1.1.

  ———, “False Alarm Calls as a Means of Resource Usurpation in the Great Tit Parus major,” Ethology 79 (1988): 25–30, doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1988.tb00697.x.

  Nagasawa, Miho, Kazutaka Mogi, and Takefumi Kikusui, “Attachment Between Humans and Dogs,” Japanese Psychological Research 51, no. 3 (2009): 209–221, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-5884.2009.00402.x/pdf.

  Okanoya, K., N. Tokimoto, N. Kumazawa, S. Hihara, and A. Iriki, “Tool-Use Training in a Species of Rodent: The Emergence of an Optimal Motor Strategy and Functional Understanding,” PLoS ONE 3, no. 3 (2008): e1860, doi:10.1371/journal.pone .0001860.

  “Orangutan Makes Break for Freedom at Audubon Zoo,” WWL, Jan. 30, 2009, www.wwl.com/Orangutan-makes-break-for-freedom-at-Audubon-Zoo/3759550 (accessed Feb. 7, 2009).

  “Orang-utan Short-Circuits Electric Fence in Zoo ‘Escape,’ ” Telegraph (UK), May 10, 2009, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5304626/Orang-utan-short-circuits-electric-fence-in-Zoo-escape.html.

  Osvath, Mathias, “Spontaneous Planning for Future Stone Throwing by a Male Chimpanzee,” Current Biology 19, no. 5 (2009): R190–R191, www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822%2809%2900547-8.

  “Otto the Octopus Wreaks Havoc,” Telegraph (UK), Oct. 31, 2008, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3328480/Otto-the-octopus-wrecks-havoc.html.

  Owen, Michael, “Grief at Losing Partner Sends Karta Over Zoo Wall,” Australian, May 11, 2009, www.theaustralian.com.au/news/grief-sends-karta-over-zoo-wall/story-e6frg6no-1225710738150.

  Pickrell, John, “Crows Better at Tool Building Than Chimps, Study Says,” National Geographic News, April 23, 2003, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0423_030423_crowtools.html.

  Pool, Bob, “Octopus Floods Santa Monica Pier Aquarium,” Los Angeles Times, Feb. 27, 2009, http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/27/local/me-octopus27.

  Pope, John, “Escape Artist: An Audubon Zoo Orangutan Boldly Goes Where No Orangutan Has Gone Before—Over the Wall,” NOLA, Jan. 30, 2009, www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/ape_escape_audubon_zoo_orangut.html.

  Roylance, Frank D., “Researchers Explore Link Between Schizophrenia, Cat Parasite,” Physorg, Aug. 4, 2010, www.physorg.com/news200164470.html.

  Russon, Anne, and Kristin Andrews, “Orangutan Pantomime: Elaborating the Message,” Biology Letters, Aug. 11, 2010, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0564.

  Sample, Ian, “Chimp Who Threw Stones at Zoo Visitors Showed Human Trait, Says Scientist,” Guardian (UK), March 9, 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/mar/09/chimp-zoo-stones-science.

  ———, “Orangutans Use Mime to Make Themselves Understood,” Guardian (UK), Aug. 11, 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/aug/11/orangutans-mime.

  Santos, Laurie R., Aaron G. Nissen, and Jonathan A. Ferrugia, “Rhesus Monkeys, Macaca mulatta, Know What Others Can and Cannot Hear,” Animal Behaviour 71, no. 5 (May 2006): 1175–1181, www.yale.edu/monkeylab/Main/Publications_files/sdarticle%283%29.pdf.

  Scheldeman, Griet, “Orangutan Ruse Misleads Predators,” BBC News, Aug. 5, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8184015.stm.

  Skloot, Rebecca, “‘Cat Lady’ Conundrum,” New York Times, Dec. 9, 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/magazine/09_10_catcoat.html.

  “The Story of an Octopus Named Otto,” NPR, Nov. 2, 2008, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96476905.

  Trivedi, Bijal, “Chimps Shown Using Not Just a Tool but a ‘Tool Kit,’” National Geographic News, Oct. 6, 2004, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1006_041006_chimps.html.

  Viegas, Jennifer, “Orangutans Use Charade-Like Communication,” Discovery News, Aug. 10, 2010, http://news.discovery.com/animals/orangutans-pantomime-charade.html.

  Waal, Frans de, Chimpanzee Politics, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998.

  Walker, Matt, “Chimps Use Cleavers and Anvils as Tools to Chop Food,” BBC News, Dec. 24, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8427000/8427974.stm.

  Wheeler, Brandon C., “Monkeys Crying Wolf? Tufted Capuchin Monkeys Use Anti-Predator Calls to Usurp Resources from Conspecifics,” Proceedings of the Royal Society Section B, June 3, 2009, pp. 3013–3018, doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0544.

  Whiting, Martin J., Jonathan K. Webb, and J. Scott Keogh, “Flat Lizard Female Mimics Use Sexual Deception in Visual but Not Chemical Signals,” Proceedings of the Royal Society Section B, Feb. 25, 2009, doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1822.

  Winkler, Robert, “Crow Makes Wire Hook to Get Food,” National Geographic News, Aug. 8, 2002, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0808_020808_crow.html.

  Yong, Ed, “The Bird That Cries Hawk: Fork-Tailed Drongos Rob Meerkats with False Alarms,” Discover, Nov. 3, 2010, http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/03/the-bird-that-cries-hawk-fork-tailed-drongos-rob-meerkats-with-false-alarms.

  7. MASTERS OF MISDIRECTION

  “Amorous Dolphin Targeting Swimmers,” CNN, June 4, 2002, http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/06/04/uk.dolphin/index.html.

  Angier, Natalie, “Dolphin Courtship: Brutal, Cunning and Complex,” New York Times, Feb. 18, 1992, www.nytimes.com/1992/02/18/science/dolphin-courtship-brutal-cunning-and-complex.html.

  Audi, Tamara, “It’s Easter. Where’s Elmer Fudd When You Need Him?” Wall Street Journal, April 3, 2010, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303395904575158581521399358.html.

  Broad, William J., “Evidence Puts Dolphins in New Light, As Killers,” New York Times, July 6, 1999, www.nytimes.com/1999/07/06/health/evidence-puts-dolphins-in-new-light-as-killers.html.

  Carlson, Kathryn Blaze, “Victoria Rabbits Hop for the Border,” National Post, Sept. 14, 2010, www.vancouversun.com/technology/Victoria+rabbits+border/3520105/story.html (accessed Sept. 20, 2010).

  Chudler, Eric H., “Brain Basics: How Much Do Animals Sleep?” Neuroscience for Kids, http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chasleep.html.

  Coniff, Richard, Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time: My Life Doing Stupid Things with Animals. Norton, 2009.

  Connor, Steve, “Jurassic Bully: Pick on Someone Your Own Size . . .” Independent (UK), Aug. 5, 2009, www.independent.co.uk/news/science/jurassic-bully-pick-on-someone-your-own-size-1767370.html.

  “The Dangers of Dolphins,” BBC News, Sept. 11, 2002, www.bbc.co.uk/southampton/features/dolphins/george.shtml.

  Dunn, Dale G., Susan G. Barco, D. Ann Pabst, and William A. McLellan, “Evidence for Infanticide in Bottlenose Dolphins of the Western North Atlantic,” Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38, no. 3 (2002): 505–510.

  “European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus),” Australian Department of Environment and Heritage, 2004, www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/pubs/rabbit.pdf.

  Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia Inc., www.rabbitfreeaus
tralia.org.au. Hooper, Rowan, “Spear-Wielding Chimps Snack on Skewered Bushbabies,” New Scientist, Feb. 22, 2007, www.newscientist.com/article/dn11234.

  “Hummingbird Behavior,” World of Hummingbirds, www.worldofhummingbirds.com/behavior.php.

  “The Impacts of Bycatch,” Environmental Justice Foundation, www.ejfoundation.org/page173.html.

  “Judge Strikes Down Injunction, Allows University of Victoria to Trap Rabbits,” Vancouver Sun, Aug. 30, 2010, www.vancouversun.com/technology/Judge+strikes+down+injunction+allows+University+Victoria+trap+rabbits/3462548/story.html (accessed Sept. 20, 2010).

  Kaplan, Matt, “‘Loving’ Bonobos Seen Killing, Eating Other Primates,” National Geographic News, Oct. 13, 2008, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081013-bonobos-attack-missions_2.html.

  Leake, Jonathan, “Scientists Say Dolphins Should Be Treated as ‘Non-Human Persons,’” Times, Jan. 3, 2010, www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6973994.ece.

  “LMU Professor Presents Case for Dolphins as Nonhuman Persons at Science Conference,” Loyola Marymount University (press release), Feb. 22, 2010, http://newsroom.lmu.edu/newsroompressreleases/dolphins.htm.

  McCleod, Mairi, “‘Hippy’ Monkey Is a Killer When Starved of Sex,” New Scientist, July 4, 2009, www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327154.300-hippy-monkey-is-a-killer-when-starved-of-sex.html.

  Milius, S., “Infanticide Reported in Dolphins,” Science News 154, no. 3 (1998): p. 36, www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/7_18_98/fob1.htm.

  Newby, Jonica, “Dolphin Talk,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Feb. 26, 2004, www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1052990.htm.

  Norris, S., M. Hall, E. Melvin, and J. Parrish, “Thinking Like an Ocean: Ecological Lessons from Marine Bycatch,” Conservation Magazine 3, no. 4 (2002): 10–19, www.conservationmagazine.org/2008/07/thinking-like-an-ocean.

  Patterson, I. A. P., R. J. Reid, B. Wilson, K. Grellier, H. M. Ross, and P. M. Thompson, “Evidence for Infanticide in Bottlenose Dolphins: An Explanation for Violent Interactions with Harbour Porpoises?” Proceedings. Biological Sciences/The Royal Society 265, no. 1402 (1998): 1167–1170.

  Pryor, Karen, “Why Porpoise Trainers Are Not Dolphin Lovers: Real and False Communication in the Operant Setting,” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 364 (1981): 137–143, doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1981.tb34467.x.

  Shiffman, David (WhySharksMatter), “Dolphin-Safe Tuna: Conservation Success Story or Ecological Disaster?” Southern Fried Science, July 26, 2010, www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=6539.

  Surbeck, Martin, and Gottfried Hohmann, “Primate Hunting by Bonobos at LuiKotale, Salonga National Park,” Current Biology 18, no. 19 (2008): R906–R907.

  Talebi, M. G., R. Beltrão-Mendes, and P. C. Lee, “Intra-Community Coalitionary Lethal Attack of an Adult Male Southern Muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoids),” American Journal of Primatology 71, no. 10 (2009): 860–867.

  Tickle, Louise, “Dolphins Bully Porpoises, Researcher Discovers,” Guardian (UK), May 11, 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/11/dolphin-research-bangor. Tucker, Abigail, “The Truth about Lions,” Smithsonian, Jan. 2010, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Truth-About-Lions.html.

  White, Thomas I., In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007.

  Wrangham, Richard W., and Dale Peterson, Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1997.

  Yong, Ed, “Chimpanzees Murder for Land,” Discover, June 21, 2010, http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/06/21/chimpanzees-murder-for-land.

  8. WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE . . .

  Anderson, Joel, “Hernando Man Run Over by Own Truck after His Dog Puts It in Gear,” St. Petersburg Times, June 23, 2010, www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/hernando-man-run-over-by-own-truck-after-his-dog-puts-it-in-gear/1104156.

  Bradley, Janis, Dogs Bite, but Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous, James and Kenneth Publishers, 2005.

  Bryner, Jeanna, “Cats and Dogs Are Household Hazards,” Live Science, April 16, 2010, www.livescience.com/animals/tripping-over-cats-dogs-100416.html.

  Cerve, Kate, “Dog Chows Down on SC Man’s School Board Petition,” Rock Hill (SC) Herald, Aug. 13, 2010, www.heraldonline.com/2010/08/13/2380523/dog-chows-down-on-sc-mans-school.html (accessed Aug. 20, 2010).

  Chang, Sophia, “Dog Rolls Van Through St. James Coffee Shop Window,” Newsday, Nov. 20,2008, www.newsday.com/long-island/dog-rolls-van-through-st-james-coffee-shop-window-1.884845.

  Coles, John, “Posties Dodge ‘Menace’ Moggy,” Sun (UK), Oct. 8, 2009, www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2673393/Posties-dodge-menace-moggy.html.

  Coppinger, Raymond, and Lorna Coppinger, Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution, University of Chicago Press, 2002.

  Coppinger, Ray, and Richard Schneider, “Evolution of Working Dogs,” in The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behaviour, and Interactions with People, edited by James Serpell, Cambridge University Press, 1995. 21–47.

  Cuttle, Vivien, “Pets Pose Bigger Risk Than Wildlife,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, April 8, 2010, www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/08/2867852.htm.

  “Dog Drives Owner’s Car into River,” MSNBC, June 22, 2007, www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19380779.

  “Dog Eats $400, but Woman Recovers Some of It,” AP/MSNBC, March 18, 2009, www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29760059/22027217.

  “Dogs and More Dogs,” Nova, Feb. 3, 2004, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/3103_dogs.html.

  “Dogs Likely Descended from Middle Eastern Wolf,” NPR, March 18, 2010, www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=124768140.

  “Dog Swallows $20,000 diamond in Maryland Jewelry Store,” WJLA, March 11, 2010, www.wjla.com/news/stories/0310/715111.html.

  “Driving Dog Let Off with Warning,” TVNZ, Sept. 16, 2009, http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/driving-dog-let-off-warning-after-crash-2992911.

  Duffy, Deborah L., Yuying Hsu, and James A. Serpell, “Breed Differences in Canine Aggression,” Applied Animal Behaviour Science 114, no. 3 (2008): 441–460, www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/applan/article/PIIS0168159108001147/abstract.

  Hare, Brian, Michelle Brown, Christina Williamson, and Michael Tomasello, “The Domestication of Social Cognition in Dogs,” Science 298, no. 5598 (2002): 1634–1636, doi:10 .1126/science.1072702.

  Kennedy, William, “A Mighty Heart,” PEN American Center, www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/1101/prmID/510.

  Lite, Jordan, “Pet Dogs and Cats a Good Way to Break a Leg, Government Says,” Scientific American, March 26, 2009, www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=pet-dogs-and-cats-a-good-way-to-bre-2009-03-26.

  “Man on Hunt Trip Shot by His Dog,” Sun (UK), July 13, 2010, www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3051943/Man-on-hunt-trip-shot-by-his-DOG.html.

  “Nonfatal Fall-Related Injuries Associated with Dogs and Cats—United States, 2001–2006,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 58, no. 11 (March 27, 2009): 277–281, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5811a1.htm.

  Pate, Karen, “Tillamook-Area Man Shot by Dog Recovering,” Oregonian, Nov. 23, 2008, www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/tillamookarea_man_shot_by_dog.html.

  “Post Ban Threat over Aggressive Cat,” Sky News, Jan. 16, 2007, http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Post-Ban-Threat-Over-Aggressive-Cat/Article/20070131247554.

  “Recurring Themes: Dogs Causing Trouble,” Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird, March 1, 2009, www.newsoftheweird.com/archive/nw090301.html.

  Rosenkrans, Nolan, “Dog Vomit Leads to Car Crash,” Winona Daily News, April 27, 2010, www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_4d9d90ba-51b5-11df-a8d3-001cc4c002e0.html.

  “Royal Mail Refuses to Post Family’s Letters Due to Household Cat,” Telegraph (UK), Nov. 1, 2010, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8102124/Royal-Mail-refuses-to-post-familys-letters-due-to-household-cat.html.

  “Royal Mail Threatens D
elivery Withdrawal After Postman ‘Attacked’ by Kitten,” Telegraph (UK), June 20, 2009, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5582674/Royal-Mail-threatens-delivery-withdrawal-after-postman-attacked-by-kitten.html.

  Savill, Richard, “Postman Pat and the Psychopathic Cat,” Telegraph (UK), Aug. 23, 2002, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1405165/Postman-Pat-and-the-psychopathic-cat. . . .html.

  Sims, Paul, “Warning: Dangerous Cat—Has Attacked 13 People in the Last Six Years,” Daily Mail, Dec. 26, 2006, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-424841/Warning-Dangerous-Cat—attacked-13-people-years.html.

  Thorndike, Edward, Animal Intelligence, Macmillan, 1911.

  “Tiger the Cat Puts a Stop to Royal Mail Deliveries,” Telegraph (UK), April 9, 2010, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7568434/Tiger-the-cat-puts-a-stop-to-Royal-Mail-deliveries.html.

  “True Stories of Incredible Pet Mishaps,” VPI Hambone Award, www.vpihamboneaward.com.

  “Violent Cat Leaves Postmen Running Scared,” Telegraph (UK), Dec. 24, 2007, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1573547/Violent-cat-leaves-postmen-running-scared.html.

  Wardrop, Murray, “Police Officer Attacked by Her Own Dog After Being Shot by Robber,” Telegraph (UK), April 30, 20 09, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/5253428/Police-officer-attacked-by-her-own-dog-after-being-shot-by-robber.html.

  Wilson, Nick, “Man Claims Dog Tripped Him, Caused Him to Fatally Shoot Wife,” San Luis Obispo Tribune, Nov. 18, 2009, www.sanluisobispo.com/2009/11/17/925151/man-claims-dog-tripped-him-caused.html.

  _________, “San Miguel Man Won’t Be Retried for Death of Wife,” San Luis Obispo Tribune, July 29, 2010, www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/07/29/1231668/san-miguel-man-wont-be-retried.html.

  “Woman Charged with Fatally Shooting Husband after Blaming Dog,” WMBB, Nov. 14, 2009, www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/bcso_investigates_fatal_shooting/mbb7719882.

  “Wombat Mauls Bushfire Survivor,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, April 6, 2010, www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/06/2865005.htm.