Big Bucks Found + Bad Habits + Pitcher Pantsed + Mysterious Boom

Patch editors were on the lookout for head-scratching stories this week, and we finally got all of our ducks in a row. Our latest news roundup showed some of the strange, fascinating and finer moments of humanity — and the opposite — from up and down the Golden State.

Recently, we've witnessed some wacky animal behavior in California homes.

It isn't every day you come home to find a bear inside your kitchen. Or maybe it is, in Nevada City. Just ask this homeowner, who had to scare a bear away from her Frigidaire.

What is it with animals deciding our homes would be comfier than their own? Just ask this family, who discovered foxes had set up camp in the back yard of a Sacramento residence. Even stranger, the homeowner is delighted with their presence.

We've heard of having the world on a string. But a sea gull?

Some Alameda firefighters did their best to help rescue a sea gull that was snagged on a kite string, showing that they don't just rescue people: They also give animals in need a helping hand.

Some lucky ducks were found in a storm drain and rescued by Castro Valley's finest. The ducklings were crossing the street when they fell through a storm drain. Thanks to firefighters, they'll live to quack another day!

And firefighters were also around to free a horse that became trapped in a dangerous spot: upside down and underneath a concrete ledge! How did it get there, and how on Earth did they lift it free? Patch tells the tale of the horse rescue in San Juan Capistrano.

Not so lucky was a beach filled with 2,000 tern nests, all abandoned after a drone crashed at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the crash, which occurred in a no-drone-flying zone.

In other weird news, we have some humans making some questionable — and a few wonderful — decisions in the public eye.

We know major league pitchers don't love the new substance check, but that doesn't mean the Oakland A's Sergio Romo couldn't have some fun with inspecting umpires. Yes, the reliever dropped his pants in front of a full crowd. Here's what happened next.

Still more people were found behaving badly across the Golden State.

What happens when you're a biker wearing an "I Don't Stop 4 Cops" sweatshirt? You might get pulled over or pursued by police if you're cruising at more than 100 mph. That's what happened in the case of this high-speed chase that ended in Pasadena.

A Southland nun, who worked as an elementary school principal, admitted to her bad gambling habit. She recently admitted guilt in the embezzlement of more than $800,000 in school funds to support her bad habit.

Some of our favorite weird and wonderful stories ...

In Santa Cruz, sightings of a big red ball delighted crowds and onlookers. Yes, an artist is taking a big, squishy red ball and placing it any number of odd places. Oh, art. What would we do without you?

When the city of Fullerton's Pride flag went missing, this Orange County mom ordered it a new one ... from Amazon. Her tweet inspired many others to follow suit, leaving the city with more Pride then it knew what to do with.

Finally, a South Bay family on a trek along the Santa Cruz Mountains made an unlikely discovery: Hidden treasure! To the tune of $1,000. Not bad for a day's hike!

Finally, this week's weirdest story of all was the earthquake that wasn't.

Thousands reported an earthquake to the U.S. Geological Survey Friday morning. Thing is, no earth movement had happened. Here's what Patch editor Paige Austin learned about the sonic boom that sent shockwaves across the Southland.

Do you have a weird news story for us? Let us know all about it by emailing your Patch Editor or sharing it in the comments.