85-year-old woman wields shovel to stop moose stomping

An agitated moose ran down and stomped a well-known Bush pilot from Willow, but he was saved when his wife grabbed a shovel from their pickup truck and whacked the big animal until it backed off.

George Murphy, 82, and his wife, Dorothea Taylor, 85, told the story of their recent moose encounter Sunday afternoon from Murphy's hospital room in Anchorage, where he is recovering from gashes to his head and left leg as well as seven broken ribs.

They were at the Willow Airport around 10:30 a.m. Friday running their golden retrievers as they do almost every day. They drive along the access road in their truck and let the dogs, Fellar and King Tut, run on ahead.

When it came time to round up the dogs, Murphy told Taylor she could wait in the truck.

"Sometimes both of us go and walk the old dog back," Taylor said. Fellar is 12 and moves slow. Tut, his son, is 3 and can run like the dickens. "But this time it was 30 below and just too darn cold out there."

Murphy was hiking back to the truck with Fellar when he saw the moose up the road. As he first told the story, he referred to the ungulate as a bull but when he thought about it later, decided it must have been a cow. No matter. It was big, and stressed.

"He was way off. Jeez, he spotted me and he started to come right after me. So I was trying to get to the truck. But I didn't make it," Murphy said.

At the airport, there were no trees to duck behind. Murphy dove into the deep snow for protection. And the moose came at him.

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George Murphy, 82, and his wife, Dorothea Taylor, 85, told the story of their recent moose encounter Sunday afternoon from Murphy's hospital room in Anchorage, where he is recovering from gashes to his head and left leg as well as seven broken ribs.

They were at the Willow Airport around 10:30 a.m. Friday running their golden retrievers as they do almost every day. They drive along the access road in their truck and let the dogs, Fellar and King Tut, run on ahead.

When it came time to round up the dogs, Murphy told Taylor she could wait in the truck.

"Sometimes both of us go and walk the old dog back," Taylor said. Fellar is 12 and moves slow. Tut, his son, is 3 and can run like the dickens. "But this time it was 30 below and just too darn cold out there."

Murphy was hiking back to the truck with Fellar when he saw the moose up the road. As he first told the story, he referred to the ungulate as a bull but when he thought about it later, decided it must have been a cow. No matter. It was big, and stressed.

"He was way off. Jeez, he spotted me and he started to come right after me. So I was trying to get to the truck. But I didn't make it," Murphy said.

At the airport, there were no trees to duck behind. Murphy dove into the deep snow for protection. And the moose came at him.

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Read more her"He started to stomp. Then he turned around and stomped again. And there was nothing I could do. I was afraid he was going to kill me."

"He started to stomp. Then he turned around and stomped again. And there was nothing I could do. I was afraid he was going to kill me."

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97 POUNDS OF FURY

Murphy, a retired state construction engineer, flew for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race nearly three decades, stopping only a couple of years ago. He once was the chief pilot for the race. He's well known among both mushers and pilots as well as the news crews he carried to cover the race. He ran a flying service for a while and still has the 1948 Aeronica he bought back in 1966, when he first met Taylor in the then-new village of Port Lions, on Kodiak Island.

He and Taylor, a retired teacher, are both familiar with wild animals. They filled their freezer with moose and caribou until they gave up hunting a couple of years back. They've been married some 40 years.

From inside the truck, Taylor heard the dogs barking in alarm and jumped out to investigate. At 5 feet tall and 97 pounds, she is tiny but tough. Years ago, she shot and killed a trophy size brown bear on Kodiak Island. The mount is on the wall of the home they built on 8 acres in Willow.

She saw the moose rear up and strike at something on the ground with its front hooves. She didn't know that her husband was down or that the moose was stomping him. She couldn't see him in the snow.

Tut was at the moose's rear, barking and trying to nip its back legs. Fellar was standing near the moose's front, barking like crazy too.

"I thought he was trying to kill Fellar, the old dog," Taylor said.

Still unaware of the danger her husband was in, she yelled for him to come help her with the dogs.

On instinct, she ran to where the action was. "And the moose started after me."

A HANDY TOOL

Taylor raced back to the truck but instead of jumping in for safety, she released the tailgate to look for something she could use. She grabbed a big grain shovel that they keep on hand to dig out if the truck gets stuck.

She walked back to the moose, making a racket with the shovel on the road, where the snow was hard-packed. She kept shouting for her husband to get over there and help.

Taylor took a swing at the moose and it backed off a little, but then it reared up and stomped its target again. It didn't let up.

"So I kept hitting it some more," Taylor said. She swung mainly at the rump but said she got in at least one good lick to the head. She knew she was too close but what could she do? Finally, the moose turned away.

"When it turned and started to go off slowly, I hit it with everything I had," she said. Tut, the younger dog, took over and chased the moose away.

"Then I saw it wasn't Fellar the moose was after at all. He was striking over the top of Fellar, to get George."

Her husband was conscious and said he may have broken ribs. That was the least of it, she thought. Blood was spurting out of a deep crack in his head. The snow was crimson. She grabbed his Iditarod baseball cap, which had fallen off, and used it to try to stop the flow the blood.

She couldn't get her husband up so she got the dogs in the truck and then ran for help.

She checked her pockets for her cellphone but couldn't find it -- she forgot it was in her purse, back in the truck. She dashed to the hangar for Denali Flying Service and hoped the owners were there.

"I jerked the door open and called 'Help! Help!' " Barry Stanley came out and called 911.

Even then, Taylor thought her husband would die from the loss of blood. Anchorage was just too far away.

But help came in time. The Willow volunteer fire department got there and stabilized him. Murphy was then rushed by medical helicopter to Providence Alaska Medical Center.

'AT THE END OF THEIR ROPE'

It's hard to say what set the moose off. If it was a cow, there was no calf around that might have explained its behavior. Maybe a snowmachine harassed it. Maybe the dogs spooked it. It might just have been stressed from an especially harsh winter, with extreme cold temperatures and heavy snow.

"They don't actually have a heckuva lot to eat," Murphy said.

"And they don't have enough stamina," Taylor said.

"They're just at the end of their rope," Murphy said. "They'll just strike out at anything."

He is not upset with the moose. Neither is his wife. They don't want anyone to try to kill it. No one could be sure they got the right one, anyway.

How long did the attack last?

"Forever," Taylor said.

"Too long," Murphy added. Every time he thought it was over, the moose struck again. It had a scary look in its eyes.

Just as Taylor didn't know her husband was under attack, he didn't know his wife was fighting off the moose. Now that he's heard the story, he's sure it would have killed him without her quick action. Her effort was amazing, he said.

"Jeez, that was a pretty hard thing for anyone to do, to walk up on a moose like that. Heck, all she had was a shovel."

"Well, we've helped each other out of problems before. This just happened to be the latest," Taylor said.

Murphy spent hours in the emergency department and then a night and day in intensive care. They don't know how many stitches he got but the main gash to his head is at least 6 inches long. He has a big wound on his left leg, too. He can walk on his own and says he feels pretty good. He is officially in fair condition. Many pilots have popped in to see him or send wishes. He hopes to go home soon.

When he awoke in the ICU Saturday morning, he first thought the whole thing was one bad dream. Then he noticed the hospital ceiling and knew he wasn't home.

They still plan to run their dogs at the airport. "I'll probably have a revolver," Taylor said. Then she stopped herself. She doesn't want to needlessly kill a wild animal. She'll have to think more on that.

"We still like to have the moose around," Murphy said.

Still, next time he won't go as far from the truck.

http://www.adn.com/2012/01/22/2277726/wife-stops-moose-stomping-with.html?story_link=email_msg

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Rare tigress kills mate in US zoo

Officials at a zoo in the US where a rare Malayan tiger was killed by his mate have said there were no warning signs of violence.

Steve Marshal, director of El Paso Zoo in Texas, said three-year-old Seri and six-year-old Wzui seemed to have bonded during their two-and-a-half months together and had even mated.

He said the animals were seen playing and being affectionate with one another just hours before Seri bit down on Wzui's neck and choked him to death.

Minnesota Zoo conservation director Tara Harris said tigers sometimes fight but very rarely kill one another. She said it is even rarer that a female would kill a male.

Mr Marshal said the zoo hopes to find another suitable mate for Seri soon.

http://news.uk.msn.com/environment/rare-tigress-kills-mate-in-us-zoo-10

Sea eagle attacks reverend and his flock....of geese

God may have made "all creatures great and small" but one leading churchman admitted yesterday he had been left traumatised by Britain's biggest bird of prey after it attacked him and killed one of his geese.

The Very Rev Hunter Farquharson, who breeds and shows birds as a hobby, returned to his cottage to find his prize-winning goose Beatrice dead, and a white-tailed sea eagle perched on a fence post nearby.

The giant raptor, with a wingspan of up to 8ft, was one of 16 released recently in the east of Scotland as part of a controversial reintroduction programme.

Mr Farquharson, Provost of St Ninian’s Cathedral in Perth, said he was "horrified" to find the goose, worth about £300, "ripped to shreds".

He went inside to phone the RSPB, a partner in the reintroduction project, but then heard a "terrible noise" as the eagle chased his champion gander Bertie.When he tried to intervene the raptor jumped on his back, tearing his shirt, leaving a 4in wound below his shoulder and cutting his head.

Mr Farquharson said: "It was very, very frightening. The geese have been traumatised by it. They have not laid since. And I'm traumatised too. I'm 6ft 5in, but it was such a shock."

When the young eagle tried to fly away it bumped into a shed and he managed to trap it by throwing wire netting over it while it was on the grass.

RSPB staff then came to his cottage in Abernethy, Perrthshire, and took the sea eagle away before releasing it to the wild again.

It was the second time Mr Farquharson's birds had been attacked by young sea eagles. Two years ago four of his bantams were killed.

He now believes they should not be reintroduced to Scotland, particularly in a populated part of the country.

Dozens of birds have been released in previous years from Wester Ross in the north west Highlands, but the RSPB is now feeding Norwegian chicks in enclosures in Fife, an hour's drive from Edinburgh, before releasing them in the east of the country. The bird involved was freed ten days ago.

"This part of the world is far too populated to be releasing sea eagles," said Mr Farquharson. "I have nothing against sea eagles at all. They are magnificent birds but around here there are far too many people and domestic animals.

"If this had been a dog that attacked livestock or a person, the dog would have been destroyed.
"But the RSPB has been quick to point out that these eagles are protected and that to harm them may result in a custodial sentence."

A spokesman for RSPB Scotland said the incident on Friday was regrettable and it would be visiting Mr Farquharson again to ensure his birds were safe.

He added: "In our experience sea eagles will only defend themselves and attack humans if they feel cornered and threatened. The sea eagles just introduced are young and naive birds.

"There are a tiny number of incidents of this sort every now and again, but these birds will soon disperse as they grow in confidence and wish to explore the wider countryside.

"It is worth noting that when this first happened with Mr Farquharson in 2008 we visited his property and afterwards paid for the installation of heavy nylon netting affixed to fence posts driven into the ground so that the poultry pen and all Mr Farquharson's birds were safe from predation.

"When we visited again on Friday it was apparent that, for whatever reason, these measures were no longer present.

"It is of course unfortunate that the bird scratched Mr Farquharson, but we believe it was simply trying to escape and resist capture."

Sea eagles were persecuted to extinction in the early 20th century and the first attempt to bring back the species began with a release project on Rum in 1975.

The scheme has previously been criticised by farmers and crofters in the west Highlands who claim they have lost hundreds of lambs to the sea eagles. There are now more than 50 breeding pairs, mostly in the north of Scotland.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8718155/Sea-eagle-attacks-reverend-and-his-flock....of-geese.html

Rogue kangaroo attacks 94-year-old Phyllis Johnson

A large, rogue red kangaroo has attacked a 94-year-old woman in her garden in Queensland, Australia.


Phyllis Johnson was hanging out her laundry when the beast bounded into her, knocking her to the ground and kicking her several times.

She tried to fend it off with a broom but had to crawl to safety.

Her son called the police who used pepper spray to subdue it. Mrs Johnson was taken to hospital and the kangaroo was later trapped by rangers.

Red kangaroos are the world's largest living marsupial. Named for their ginger fur, they can weigh about 90kg (200lb), grow as tall as 2m (6ft 7in) and jump more than 9m (30ft).

"I thought it was going to kill me," Phyllis Johnson told the Courier-Mail newspaper from her hospital bed following the attack in the outback town of Charleville.

"It was taller than me and it just ploughed through the clothes on the washing line straight for me.

"I happened to have a broom nearby and I just started swinging at it. I bashed it on the head but it kept going for me. Not even the dog would help, it was too frightened."

'Unusual call'
Mrs Johnson was forced to crawl into her home and alert her son who also tried to persuade the animal to go away before calling the police.

Bruised and bleeding, she was subsequently admitted to hospital.

"My son made me. I'm OK, although the 'roo took a chunk of flesh out of my leg and there's a chance they'll have to operate," she said.

The kangaroo lunged at two police officers before wildlife rangers were able to trap the kangaroo.

The animal is being examined by a vet before a decision is made about its future.

"It's one of the many unusual calls we get out here," said senior sergeant Stephen Perkins, head of police in Charleville.

Mrs Johnson said she had always enjoyed the kangaroos, and used to feed them bread.

"They've always been so gentle," she said.

"They weren't as big as that one though and they've never gone for me like that. This one seemed to target me, it was putting its feet into me and kicking."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14287357

Namibia: Creatures Continue Nocturnal Attacks--African Chupacabras?

Stories of unidentified creatures that attack animals at night continue to do the rounds in the north. On the early morning hours of last Friday, a puppy that belonged to Lukas Fotolela, a resident of Ongwediva, died after it was savagely mauled by an unknown creature.

The creature allegedly entered the house through a small gate that was not properly closed.

"I was sleeping with an open window, when I saw a big white animal, with a black or brownish head forcing its way underneath the corrugated iron sheets where the puppies were sleeping. I tried to scare it away by hitting on the window but instead, it jumped towards me, wanting to attack me, but I quickly closed the door," explained Monica Simon.

According to Simon, the creature looked like a dog, but was bigger than a dog. She explained that the animal exuded a strong bad odour.

"After I closed the window, the creature went back to the puppies and killed my favourite puppy. I heard it making sounds as if it was chewing something. I thought it was eating up the puppy but when we woke up, the dead dog only had a bit of blood coming from its mouth. I guess it sucked its blood," said Simon.

The owner of the house, Lukas Fotolela, who worked until late that night came home to find his dog dead.

"When I came home, the incident had just happened. The small gate was open and the dog was already dead. The other puppy survived as it hid on the far corner of the corrugated iron sheets," said Fotolela.

Fotolela said he searched his yard but could not find the animal or its footprints.

For years now stories of unknown creatures that kill animals in the north, especially Oshana Region have been reported. Livestock especially goats and chickens have reportedly fallen prey to these creatures.

Accusing fingers are pointed at individuals who are accused of being the owners of these animals in what is believed to be witchcraft cases. They only suck their victims' blood and eat the foetus from expecting goats.

Early this year, two dogs were killed by police officials and environment and tourism officers at Ehafo Village after the community there informed the officials that these dogs were responsible of the deaths of their animals.

The two dogs that belonged to an Oshakati businessman were killed after "mistaken" identity.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201010070670.html
 

Namibia: Creatures Continue Nocturnal Attacks--African Chupacabras?

Stories of unidentified creatures that attack animals at night continue to do the rounds in the north. On the early morning hours of last Friday, a puppy that belonged to Lukas Fotolela, a resident of Ongwediva, died after it was savagely mauled by an unknown creature.

The creature allegedly entered the house through a small gate that was not properly closed.

"I was sleeping with an open window, when I saw a big white animal, with a black or brownish head forcing its way underneath the corrugated iron sheets where the puppies were sleeping. I tried to scare it away by hitting on the window but instead, it jumped towards me, wanting to attack me, but I quickly closed the door," explained Monica Simon.

According to Simon, the creature looked like a dog, but was bigger than a dog. She explained that the animal exuded a strong bad odour.

"After I closed the window, the creature went back to the puppies and killed my favourite puppy. I heard it making sounds as if it was chewing something. I thought it was eating up the puppy but when we woke up, the dead dog only had a bit of blood coming from its mouth. I guess it sucked its blood," said Simon.

The owner of the house, Lukas Fotolela, who worked until late that night came home to find his dog dead.

"When I came home, the incident had just happened. The small gate was open and the dog was already dead. The other puppy survived as it hid on the far corner of the corrugated iron sheets," said Fotolela.

Fotolela said he searched his yard but could not find the animal or its footprints.

For years now stories of unknown creatures that kill animals in the north, especially Oshana Region have been reported. Livestock especially goats and chickens have reportedly fallen prey to these creatures.

Accusing fingers are pointed at individuals who are accused of being the owners of these animals in what is believed to be witchcraft cases. They only suck their victims' blood and eat the foetus from expecting goats.

Early this year, two dogs were killed by police officials and environment and tourism officers at Ehafo Village after the community there informed the officials that these dogs were responsible of the deaths of their animals.

The two dogs that belonged to an Oshakati businessman were killed after "mistaken" identity.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201010070670.html
 

Nocturnal cow attacks car

A cow left to wander on a cold night attacked a car while walking along a country road near the town of Heimbach in North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday night.


According to the police report, the cow had decided to cross the road, forcing two cars to stop. Suddenly confronted, the cow went on the attack, running past one car before jumping half on to the second.

Once it had successfully smashed the hood of the vehicle with its front hooves, the cow fled into a nearby forest.

Despite an immediate attempt to capture the animal, the cow evaded the police until Sunday morning, when it was returned to its owner.

The 36-year-old driver of the car escaped unharmed, though shaken.

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20101024-30719.html

Nocturnal cow attacks car

A cow left to wander on a cold night attacked a car while walking along a country road near the town of Heimbach in North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday night.


According to the police report, the cow had decided to cross the road, forcing two cars to stop. Suddenly confronted, the cow went on the attack, running past one car before jumping half on to the second.

Once it had successfully smashed the hood of the vehicle with its front hooves, the cow fled into a nearby forest.

Despite an immediate attempt to capture the animal, the cow evaded the police until Sunday morning, when it was returned to its owner.

The 36-year-old driver of the car escaped unharmed, though shaken.

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20101024-30719.html

Leaping fish punctures lung of woman kayaking in Keys

A marine mystery unfolded in the Florida Keys on Sunday, when something leapt from the water, punctured the lung of a woman in a kayak and returned to the ocean.


Karri Larson, 46, of Cudjoe Key, was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was listed Monday afternoon in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit.

It's unclear what attacked her. Several species are capable of leaping from the water, but only a few can inflict that sort of injury. Unlike other incidents of this sort, the creature didn't remain in the boat to be identified but disappeared over the side.

The Coast Guard issued a news release blaming her injury on a barracuda. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission disagreed. FWC Officer Robert Dube said, "It was definitely not a barracuda. She was struck by some species from the water. Nobody saw it. We can only speculate at this time."

Among the possibilities, experts say, is the houndfish, a species that has been known on rare occasion to leap out of the water and injure people. Although the houndfish lacks the barracuda's sinister appearance, it has a needle-like snout that can penetrate human flesh.

"It sounds like a houndfish," said Jason Schratwieser, conservation director of the International Game Fish Association. "Those things have been known to jump out and impale people."

The kayakers were on a "real nice Sunday afternoon kayak ride," paddling past pristine wilderness near Big Pine Key, said Capt. Kevin Freestone, owner of TowBoatU.S. in Big Pine Key and Cudjoe Key and a member of the Big Pine Key Volunteer Fire Department.

They then saw "quite a big fish that was skipping across the water," Freestone said. "Lo and behold, it went and hit her. Crazy."

The fish, which the kayakers estimated was about four feet long, knocked Larson from their two-person watercraft, but she climbed back in, Freestone said.

The man, unable to row to shore fearing it would further harm the injured Larson, phoned for help. Freestone and other rescuers reached them on two boats and took them to safety.

Larson was taken to Dolphin Marina, and then taken by helicopter to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Boats never have been an entirely safe haven from marine creatures. Although such incidents are extremely rare, Florida boaters have been injured by sturgeon, spotted eagle rays and other species leaping into their vessels.

"There are several species of fish that will jump out of the water in South Florida," said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History. "The barracuda is certainly one, the houndfish is certainly one, and the king mackerel will jump out of the water. The most likely one of the three is the houndfish. The houndfish and other needlefish are known and documented to get embedded in humans."

Ten years ago, a houndfish seriously injured a 17-year-old girl standing in chest-deep water near the site of Sunday's incident. The fish leapt from the water and stabbed her, breaking its bill off in her neck. It had to be surgically removed.

She underwent speech therapy to restore her damaged vocal cords, and was left with a 6-inch scar that runs from her left ear down toward her collarbone, the St. Petersburg Times reported in 2000.

Stephanie Mittler's accident drew national attention, including calls from David Letterman's show and NBC's "Dateline."

But despite all the talk Monday of the houndfish, Capt. Tom Zsak, a charter boat operator out of Fort Lauderdale, said a barracuda still sounded like the most likely suspect. They are a common species, aggressive biters and known to leap several feet out of the water while chasing fish.

"We call them the saber tooth tiger of the ocean," he said. "Here in Fort Lauderdale I see it when they're chasing baitfish, I've seen them a good four or five feet out of the water. A person would be mangled pretty good by a barracuda bite."

Barbara Hijek, David Fleshler 

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The houndfish may have been responsible for the attack on the kayaker. The houndfish has a needle-like snout that can penetrate human flesh

Leaping fish punctures lung of woman kayaking in Keys

A marine mystery unfolded in the Florida Keys on Sunday, when something leapt from the water, punctured the lung of a woman in a kayak and returned to the ocean.


Karri Larson, 46, of Cudjoe Key, was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was listed Monday afternoon in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit.

It's unclear what attacked her. Several species are capable of leaping from the water, but only a few can inflict that sort of injury. Unlike other incidents of this sort, the creature didn't remain in the boat to be identified but disappeared over the side.

The Coast Guard issued a news release blaming her injury on a barracuda. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission disagreed. FWC Officer Robert Dube said, "It was definitely not a barracuda. She was struck by some species from the water. Nobody saw it. We can only speculate at this time."

Among the possibilities, experts say, is the houndfish, a species that has been known on rare occasion to leap out of the water and injure people. Although the houndfish lacks the barracuda's sinister appearance, it has a needle-like snout that can penetrate human flesh.

"It sounds like a houndfish," said Jason Schratwieser, conservation director of the International Game Fish Association. "Those things have been known to jump out and impale people."

The kayakers were on a "real nice Sunday afternoon kayak ride," paddling past pristine wilderness near Big Pine Key, said Capt. Kevin Freestone, owner of TowBoatU.S. in Big Pine Key and Cudjoe Key and a member of the Big Pine Key Volunteer Fire Department.

They then saw "quite a big fish that was skipping across the water," Freestone said. "Lo and behold, it went and hit her. Crazy."

The fish, which the kayakers estimated was about four feet long, knocked Larson from their two-person watercraft, but she climbed back in, Freestone said.

The man, unable to row to shore fearing it would further harm the injured Larson, phoned for help. Freestone and other rescuers reached them on two boats and took them to safety.

Larson was taken to Dolphin Marina, and then taken by helicopter to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Boats never have been an entirely safe haven from marine creatures. Although such incidents are extremely rare, Florida boaters have been injured by sturgeon, spotted eagle rays and other species leaping into their vessels.

"There are several species of fish that will jump out of the water in South Florida," said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History. "The barracuda is certainly one, the houndfish is certainly one, and the king mackerel will jump out of the water. The most likely one of the three is the houndfish. The houndfish and other needlefish are known and documented to get embedded in humans."

Ten years ago, a houndfish seriously injured a 17-year-old girl standing in chest-deep water near the site of Sunday's incident. The fish leapt from the water and stabbed her, breaking its bill off in her neck. It had to be surgically removed.

She underwent speech therapy to restore her damaged vocal cords, and was left with a 6-inch scar that runs from her left ear down toward her collarbone, the St. Petersburg Times reported in 2000.

Stephanie Mittler's accident drew national attention, including calls from David Letterman's show and NBC's "Dateline."

But despite all the talk Monday of the houndfish, Capt. Tom Zsak, a charter boat operator out of Fort Lauderdale, said a barracuda still sounded like the most likely suspect. They are a common species, aggressive biters and known to leap several feet out of the water while chasing fish.

"We call them the saber tooth tiger of the ocean," he said. "Here in Fort Lauderdale I see it when they're chasing baitfish, I've seen them a good four or five feet out of the water. A person would be mangled pretty good by a barracuda bite."

Barbara Hijek, David Fleshler 

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The houndfish may have been responsible for the attack on the kayaker. The houndfish has a needle-like snout that can penetrate human flesh