A Texas woman was understandably taken aback when she discovered that a possum had somehow made its way into her home and took up residence in her artificial Christmas tree. According to a local media report, the wild incident occurred last week when Brett Ingram heard a peculiar sneeze erupt from the tree that she had set up ten days earlier. Although she initially assumed that one of her pets was responsible for the strange sound, that assessment quickly changed when she “heard it again, louder, along with some other animal-like noises.” Now curious as to the source of the sound, Ingram approached her Christmas tree and spotted “a giant, breathing ball of gray fur” that smelled “horrible.”

Ingram took a closer look and realized that the critter in question was a possum that had managed to get inside her house and crawled up into the faux Christmas tree. Detailing the situation as it unfolded in a video that has since gone viral, she frantically lamented that “I don’t know how it got in here, I don’t leave my doors open. Somebody help.” Ingram eventually set about trying to extricate the possum from the tree, which proved to be a rather difficult task as the animal would not budge when she pulled on it with gloved hands.

After several attempts at removing the critter from the tree, it finally released its grasp and fell to the ground, which kicked off a strange showdown wherein Ingram reportedly chased the animal around her home for an astounding 30 minutes as it took refuge under various pieces of furniture while she was in hot pursuit. The bizarre battle came to an end when she was eventually able to corner the creature and “tackle him like an NFL football player.” Ingram subsequently released the undoubtedly frightened animal back into the wild, musing that “as an animal lover, I probably would have kept it if it didn’t smell so horrid.”

BBC

A dog who was found alive beside her owner’s dead body 10 weeks after they went missing in the Colorado mountains survived by hunting small animals, rescuers said.

Rich Moore, 71, with his Jack Russell terrier, Finney, had set out to climb Blackhead Peak on 19 August, but never returned home.

Mr Moore’s body was found on 30 October, with Finney by his side.

Rescuers said it was a “magnificent story of survival”.

Delinda VanneBrightyn, of the volunteer group Taos Search and Rescue, said rescuers carried out an unsuccessful days-long search of the steep western side of the mountain between where Mr Moore’s car was parked and the peak.

Weeks later a hunter found Mr Moore’s body in the San Juan Mountains – about 1.5 miles (2.5km) east of the peak – with Finney still alive but weighing about six pounds, about half her original body weight.

A recovery crew was flown in the next day. Finney was taken to a veterinarian and is now with Mr Moore’s family.

The Associated Press quoted Ms VanneBrightyn as saying that Finney somehow survived, probably by hunting small animals such as mice while also managing to avoid predators like mountain lions, coyotes and bears.

“Jack Russells are pretty fierce, I have to say, they’re tough little dogs,” she said, adding that Finney’s “magnificent story of survival” is a testament to her dedication and loyalty to her owner.

“We are very glad… that Finney was returned to the family because they have lost their loved one, but they still have this wonderful, loyal dog,” Ms VanneBrightyn said.

Archuleta County Coroner Brad Hunt ruled that Mr Moore had died of hypothermia, which can cause people to become disorientated and confused.

From the starting point, the hike to Blackhead Peak gains 2,150ft (650m) in elevation.

Friends of Mr Moore told Outside Magazine that he was an experienced hiker and that he had hiked to Blackhead Peak before with a friend.

Mr Moore’s wife, Dana Holby, told the magazine that Finney was very attached to her husband.

Ms Holby was in Montana visiting her sick sister when Mr Moore told her over the phone that he planned to hike to the peak with Finney, and she told him not to go alone.

She also told the magazine she was shocked to discover that Finney had survived for 10 weeks in the wilderness, and that she and her son wept when they collected the dog from the animal hospital.