The Wilder World So Far

Is 73 posts really enough for a clip show? Well, it doesn't matter—you're getting one anyway. Since launching "The Wilder World Outdoors" in September 2012, I've had the chance to write about some downright strange things: quail-catching professional athletes, Obama-hating whitetail, dumb poachers and more. Now it's time for me to single out my five favorite stories from the past year and a half. Please keep in mind that I'm listing them in no particular order.

Impala Leaps into Car, Escapes Cheetahs
From July of last year comes the story of two hungry cheetahs and one particularly panicked impala. A group of tourists expecting to see a fresh kill instead got the shock of a lifetime when the impala managed to leap through the open rear window of the car—simultaneously escaping certain doom and probably ruining a few people's shorts.

Moose Get Drunk, Form "Gang"
Alcohol has a habit of driving those consuming it to do crazy things—though, in most cases, the perpetrators of are the human variety. As it turns out, though, moose aren't immune to its effects. Last fall a man from Stockholm, Sweden, was forced to call the police after being barred entrance to his own home by a group of drunken bull moose (and I don't mean members of Teddy Roosevelt's old political party). It turns out that, year after year, the local moose get into rotten, fermented fruit and create all kinds of havoc.

Bear Walks into Bar, is Completely Unimpressed
It's not often that such a cliché joke becomes a reality ... but last July, a bear really did walk into a bar. The Washington Free Beacon originally reported that a black bear had been caught on camera walking through the front door of a bar in Colorado. What happened next? Absolutely nothing. The bear scoped out the local scene, turned around, and left. Patrons didn't even realized that there had been a big ol' bear in their midst until someone noticed it on the security footage later on.

Indiana Man Kills Leopard—In His Yard
It's not all that uncommon for a property owner in the Midwest to have to put down a four-legged predator from time to time—but it's not often that the animal in question is thousands of miles away from home. That was the case last June, when an Indiana man shot and killed a spotted leopard that he and a friend found prowling about the backyard. At the time, officials believed that the cat had potentially escaped from a licensed owner—it's legal to own them in Indiana, so long as you've got the right paperwork. I've kept an eye on the story since it happened, but the leopard's origins don't appear to have surfaced on the web.

Tales From My Father: Emergency TP
Honestly, there's no way I can do this one justice in a single paragraph. It's a tale of what happens when a hunter answers the call of nature, but forgets his toiletries. You'll have to click through to the original post to get the full story. Trust me, it's well worth it.

Well, there you have it. My top five "Wild" stories, thus far. I look forward to 73 more, and then some. Keep reading, folks.