​This just in from the Daily News: a most troubling report suggests that the early onset of warm weather could prompt swarms of stink bugs -- and other creepy crawlies -- to invade America! (Invade!)

Of course, Runnin' Scared wondered: What about bed bugs?

Indeed, past reports on bed bugs kinda makes the meteorology-infestation link. Also out today was info about bed bugs at an upstate children's hospital.

But it might not be necessary to worry about these wily arthropods quite yet.

More >>

​And now for an item about rats' imminent takeover of New York.

Undeterred by the wild coyotes roaming parts of Harlem and Central Park, rats have moved beyond their old hangouts -- the city's subways, playgrounds and car parties -- and have become very comfortable in Upper Manhattan, which now boasts the highest infestation rate in the borough.

More >>

​Have you heard? There are coyotes in New York! Coyotes! They have been seen in our fair city's green spaces, such as Central Park, prowling -- all coyote-like -- around Harlem and near Columbia University with their hungry, coyote eyes and bared, coyote fangs.

Now, scientists say that these carnivorous canines are pretty much harmless, and could actually be a good thing for NYC ecology, with one scientist telling the New York Times: "What happens is that when there's a top predator, it will help control other levels of the food chain."

But don't be lulled into a sense of false security: while old myths about coyote bites turning humans into werecoyotes probably aren't true, you should generally avoid petting packs of wild animals. However, if you live here, it's very likely that you have forgotten basic outdoorsy common sense. Runnin' Scared has put together brief survival guide to overcoming New York's wild beasts.

(Disclaimer: These tips might or might not actually work.)

More >>

via

​Have you witnessed the latest giant dead rat of New York City, as photographed in what appears to be a Foot Locker stock room in the Bronx? It is a beaut! Actually, it is horrifying. The picture was tweeted by @TheGoodfella, who writes, "SON THEY FOUND MASTER SPLINTER AT A FOOTLOCKER IN THE BX...THIS SHIT WILD."

More >>

Animals doing human things! We enjoy this immensely! In the same vein as "Deer Prefers Beer" and "Moose Learns Valuable Lesson About Moderation," except, of course, artier, there is Winkelhimer Smith, the alleged painting squirrel, who in the last week has taken the Internet by storm, primarily because the Internet loves nothing more than a painting squirrel that may or may not actually be painting.

More >>

​On Sunday, Rosie and I headed over to the Javits Center to check out the much-anticipated Meet the Breeds, the "world's largest gathering of dogs and cats," hosted by the American Kennel Club and The International Cat Association. We were promised 200 different breeds, animal agility competitions, law enforcement K9s in action, and a cat fashion show. Alas, we missed the cat fashion show, but we saw a lot. And learned more.

More >>

​Wild turkeys are no laughing matter, as one local news reporter found out the hard way earlier this year. Well, it's turkey time again, and they're encroaching closer. And closer. Wild turkeys have been a problem on Staten Island for a while now, and there have been numerous discussions on what to do to keep them in check and/or do away with them (cooking them, for instance, has been suggested). Some want to save them. And this year, it seems, they are more terrifying than ever. They are next level wild turkeys.

More >>

​According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend $6.68 billion on Halloween this year. Included in that sum is an astounding $310 million spent on costumes for people's pets. Give Americans credit: We can suffer through a recession, gross economic turmoil, a foreclosure epidemic, and a tepid stock market, but we sure as shit aren't skimping on the dog costumes.

More >>

via Animal Planet

​Marvin is terrified of pit bulls because of a traumatic experience he had as a child. Forty years ago, this fear would have been undiagnosed and Marvin's phobia would be his secret shame. Because it is 2011, the world gets to watch Marvin break down in tears when confronted by a puppy on Animal Planet's My Extreme Animal Phobia. Isn't progress great? Video after the jump.

More >>

A wild squirrel walked into the CVS at 116th Street and Lenox Avenue on Monday morning and then just stayed, pigging out on delicious mixed nuts for four days, reports DNA Info. This is not only notable because there's video, but also because the squirrel entranced many a staffer and even random onlookers, none of whom could catch him. By this morning, he'd made it to the window, where he got stuck, perhaps from all the mixed nuts he'd been eating.

More >>