And the winner is…Jake van Kooten of British Columbia

record huge pumpkin

A Canadian farmer has won a contest in California with a pumpkin that weighs more than 1,500 pounds.

Jake van Kooten of British Columbia collected more than $9,000 in prize money Saturday at the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin and Harvest Festival. Festival spokesman Steve Capps says the entry set a new California record — by just 1 pound.

Need to relax? Take a lesson from a cat.

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Wonder if they eat slugs?

KOMO News – Seattle, Washington

A crew from the Newcastle [Washington] Public Works Department got quite a surprise recently when they discovered two Pacific giant salamanders.

The species is rare to begin with, and the creatures are usually very elusive and come out only at night to avoid predators. Even more interesting, they actually bark when threatened making a noise similar to a dog.

The creatures, which are the largest salamander species in North America, can grow up to 14 inches long. They usually are found near streams on forest floors, and range from coastal California north to southwestern British Columbia.