From a loose emu to surfing dog: Watch the biggest animal moments caught on video in 2024

Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY

December 17, 2024 at 10:59 p.m.·2 min read

A new year means more viral moments of animals being animals.

From Florida alligators and Oregon black bears to a Massachusetts great white shark, 2024 proved to be a big year for ferocious animal moments caught on camera.

Some viral videos involved more than one animal, like one the USA TODAY Network obtained in June showing a fearless bear fighting off two alligators in a Florida river. That same month, a viral video captured a heroic deer warning an Oregon homeowner that a bear was approaching.

Other videos are more heartwarming, like the massive Russian cat named Kroshik going from 38 pounds to 25 pounds following a weight-loss journey. In September, a strange video showcased a black bear walking on two legs in the mountains of West Virginia.

Whether gearing toward the wholesome, peculiar or straight up terrifying, here are some of the most memorable animal videos of 2024.

Alligator drags massive Burmese python through the water in Florida

Alligator missing tail roams around Florida neighborhood

Bear fights off two alligators while going for a swim in a Florida river

Beachgoer uses shovel to scare away hungry bear

Deer warns Oregon homeowner of an approaching bear in backyard

Black bear lunges at employee at Tennessee theme park concession stand

Two-legged bear seen on trail camera in Appalachian Mountains

Paraglider catches dog chasing birds on top of Great Pyramid of Giza

Pups take to water to catch waves before big competition

Overweight 38-pound kitty is on a health journey

Cat stays cool in a floating cooler as owner tows him from a kayak

Rodeo bulls escape their pen, plow through crowded parking lot

Loose emu wanders around Pennsylvania neighborhood

Two camels seen trotting around Ohio theme park

Hundreds of sea lions slide off embankment in California

Enchanting moment as killer whales breech water to hunt

Great white shark circles boaters, pops head out to inspect crew

Dolphins leap out of water near boat off California coast

Sharks feed on massive school of fish off Long Island shore

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch the best animal videos of 2024, from surfing pups to loose emu

The Hill
Hunter dies after bear falls on him: Virginia officials
A 58-year-old Virginia man died on Friday after a bear fell on him while he was on a hunting trip, according to Virginia officials. The man, Lester Clayton Harvey Jr., was part of a group of hunters that was following a bear during the trip on Dec. 9, according to a statement from the Virginia…
CBC
10-year-old girl from Whale Cove, Nunavut, takes down her first polar bear
Ava Nipisar lay in the snow, watching quietly from behind a rifle outside of her home community of Whale Cove, Nunavut. Through the scope, Nipisar watched a polar bear slowly making its way over the thin sea ice. It took more than an hour for the bear to make it to solid land, and Nipisar was able to take her shot.In the end, it took 10 shots for the 10-year-old to down the large animal. When she walked up to it, Nipisar started to cry. She said they were happy tears. "Because I know my grandma'
France 24
Powerful earthquake hits Pacific island of Vanuatu, bodies seen in street
A devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday struck off the coast of Vanuatu's main island, Efate, severely damaging Port Vila and crushing the ground floor of a building containing US and French embassies. Casualties and extensive destruction were reported, including visible bodies in the streets, as per the US Geological Survey and eyewitness accounts. A powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island of Vanuatu on Tuesday, severely damaging buildings in the capital Port Vila including one hou
The Weather Network
Snow, cold returns to Ontario after quick flirt with mild, rainy weather
The week started off on a mild note in southern Ontario, but wintry weather will return to the region by Wednesday––with another shot of snow and much colder temperatures for beyond, too
The Weather Network
Heavy snow threatens dangerous travel on the Prairies, risk of 10-20+ cm
Drivers beware: A swath of heavy snow will likely have widespread impacts across the Prairies this week, with 10-20+ cm expected to fall
The Weather Network - Video
This bizarre cloud stunned B.C. residents, what caused it?
On December 14, a bizarre cloud stunned residents along British Columbia's west coast. The Weather Network meteorologist Tyler Hamilton explains how it formed.
The Canadian Press
14 dead and hundreds injured in magnitude 7.3 quake in Vanuatu. Some people are trapped in rubble
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck off Vanuatu killed at least 14 people, injured hundreds more and caused widespread damage across the South Pacific island nation, officials said early Wednesday.
The Canadian Press
A zoo elephant dies in Indonesia after being swept away in a river
GIANYAR, Indonesia (AP) — An elephant that lived at the zoo on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali was found dead on Tuesday after being swept away by a strong river current.
The Weather Network
British Columbia's endless storm chaos: what’s fuelling it?
What makes the powerful storms on the West Coast stand out isn’t just their impacts—it’s the science behind why they’ve been so impactful.
The Canadian Press
A hunter in Virginia has died after a bear shot in a tree fell on him
LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man has died after a bear in a tree shot by one of his hunting partners fell on him, state wildlife officials said.
LA Times
In the dust of the Coachella Valley, residents push for a park along the shrinking Salton Sea
In this sweltering desert where residents have limited access to parks, community advocates are calling for the Salton Sea to once more become a vibrant destination where families can gather in nature. But is it safe to recreate there?
CBC
Search continues for missing person after B.C. mudslide washed away home
At least two people have died in the severe windstorm that hit B.C.'s South Coast this weekend. Sea to Sky RCMP are asking the province for additional resources after one of two residents was killed in a mudslide that washed away their home near Lions Bay, B.C. The search for the home's other occupant continues. Pinki Wong has the latest.
The Weather Network
Unsettled, rainy pattern will continue in storm-battered B.C.
After a stormy weekend of rain and dangerous winds in British Columbia, the unsettled pattern will continue on Tuesday as another round of heavy rains reaches the coast
BBC
Buildings flattened as 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits Vanuatu
The extent of damage remains unclear, but there are unconfirmed reports of at least one death.
CBC
Ship traffic steadily increasing in Canadian Arctic waters, researchers say
Ship traffic in the Canadian Arctic, just as in other circumpolar regions, continued to grow in 2024 — driven mainly by the transport of raw materials. That's according to the Arctic Policy and Security Observatory at Université du Québec à Montréal, which released its report called "L'année arctique," or "The Arctic Year" in English. It looks at the biggest trends in the Arctic since 2019, in collaboration with the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa. At a news c
The Motley Fool
Renewable Energy: Why It’s a Must-Watch Sector in 2025
Renewable energy is a must-watch sector in 2025 and two stocks are excellent options for investors looking to ride the rising tide. The post Renewable Energy: Why It’s a Must-Watch Sector in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.
USA TODAY
Hunter dies in freak accident after bear falls from tree in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources said a treed bear fell and hit the hunter. The man, 58, later died at a hospital.
The Weather Network - Video
Slick roads with heavy snow and freezing rain in the Prairies
Pacific moisture spills into the Prairies bringing a swath of heavy snow, and the threat of patchy icy conditions. Meteorologist Nadine Powell details the timing and amounts.
Canadian Press Videos
Reactions after magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits Pacific island nation of Vanuatu
The USGS says a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck just off the coast of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. The quake on Tuesday occurred at a depth of 35 miles and was centered near Port Vila, the largest city in the island nation.
Reuters
Commonwealth plans world's first grid-scale fusion power plant in Virginia
Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a private company spun off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, plans what it calls the world's first grid-scale fusion power plant in Virginia, to generate power by the early 2030s, the company said on Tuesday. CFS lacks local and federal permits, investors to fund most of the plant's construction, and the answer to fusion's top technological question: how to get more energy out of a fusion reaction than what goes into it in the first place. "The fact that there's a broad investor syndicate, that's a good thing," Bob Mumgaard, the company's CEO, told Reuters ahead of the announcement.

Canada's GST/HST break has begun — here's everything you can buy tax-free before Christmas