Attack of the Killer Squid

BUDAPEST, Oregon (AP) -- Thirty schoolchildren directly discovered the effects of toxic waste on Friday as a mutant squid attacked School Bus 7 on State Highway 5. The bus, filled with elementary school children between the ages of 5 and 9, had just left the Budapest Elementary School, according to Bus Driver John Zwebowski. A nearby citizen called 9-1-1 after the squid rose out of the ocean and attacked the bus. The squid was shot with tranquilizers by local police and zoo officials in order to stop the attack. No fatalities were reported, and none of the 30 children were hospitalized, although Bus 7 is no longer road-legal.

The squid, dubbed "Spot" by the school children, is now housed at the Budapest Aquarium and is undergoing studies.

There have been 18 reported squid and octopus attacks involving moving vehicles in the past year in the United States. One reason for this may be the growing number of chemicals dumped into our oceans, according to Scientist Jean Paul Bleaulall, of the Budapest Aquarium. "People don't stop to think when they urinate in our oceans," said Bleaulall, "If you dump ammonia and other harsh chemicals in a fish tank, you'll get mutated fish." Although the attacks have been concentrated mostly in California, researchers caution that "this can happen anywhere and any time." Researchers said that there was not enough information available to determine how many giant squid are in the ocean at this time. "This is not a squid problem or an octopus problem," said Bleaulall, "It's a people problem."

To help prevent a squid attack, it is important to recognize the signs. Researchers say that a squid that is preparing to attack will stiffen, lean forward, and stare before attacking, and its tenticles may quiver. If faced with a threatening squid, researchers advise to remain calm, back away slowly, and not make eye contact with the squid. Researchers warn that people should not turn their backs on threatening squids.

For more information, contact the Budapest Aquarium at (541)555-5555.