Just in case you forget, as you go out looking for cryptids, yes, animals do attack. Animals are doing what animals do.

Two surfers have been killed by sharks off the west coast of Mexico this spring, and people continue to be have less than warm and fuzzy encounters.

There are breaking announcements and news this week of some violent and deadly confrontations of the natural history kind.

A cougar attacked, killed and partially ate a New Mexico man living in a trailer, authorities announced on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.

A search party found the body of Robert Nawojski, 55, in a wooded area near his mobile home in Pinos Altos, New Mexico, late last week, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said. Investigators concluded that Nawojski had been attacked and killed by a cougar at a spot close to his home, where he lived alone and was known to bathe and shave outdoors.

Spokesman Dan Williams said the animal subsequently dragged Nawojski’s body a short distance into nearby woodland and ate and buried parts of it.

Nawojski was reported missing by his brother last week.

A search party found a cougar lurking near his home, and reported it to the Department of Game and Fish, who shot and wounded the animal.

After the cougar ran off, the officer found the door to the mobile home open, the water running and Nawojski’s false teeth on the table.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, June 22, 2008, an adolescent male lose an arm during an alligator attack in Florida. The teenager was attacked by an 111/2-foot alligator, but managed to get away with his life but lost his arm.

A Sheriff’s Office report says Kasey Edwards was with friends on Nubbin Slough in Okeechobee County when he decided to swim across a 25-foot-deep canal. Halfway through the swim, an alligator clamped down on his left arm.

Edwards says he fought back by grabbing a buoy line and not letting go. He then poked the animal in the eye to get free. He was able to swim back to his friends.

The arm was recovered from the alligator’s stomach, but was too badly damaged to reattach.

Finally, in Kenya, Toroitich Kurere, 70, died at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital on Saturday, June 21, 2008, as his son who was admitted to the same ward watched helplessly.

The two were in hospital after they were attacked by a hyena at their farm next to Lake Bogoria National Park in Baringo District last Monday, June 16, 2008. The elderly man had fought off a hyena as it was attacking his son.

It was not mentioned if it was a spotted or a striped hyena. Both are found in Kenya, but the striped hyena is much more shy than the spotted.

Yes, these things do occur.

Sources: Kenya’s Daily Nation, The Stuart News, The Calgary Herald, and Images.