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Dolphin refuses to leave Calif. wetland

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., April 30 (UPI) -- A dolphin lingering in a dead-end wetland near Huntington Beach, Calif., refuses to head back into open water, an marine animal expert said Sunday.

The dolphins behavior has befuddled Peter Wallerstein, program director for Southern California's Marine Animal Rescue.

"He's not trapped in this area," Wallerstein told CNN.

The dolphin, dubbed Fred by some spectators, appeared healthy and in no danger, though he showed "some signs of being disoriented," he said.

"He's eating fish, sardines," Wallerstein said. "That's a good sign."

The 6-foot common dolphin was first spotted in the Bolsa Chica wetlands Thursday. Would-be rescuers on paddle boards nearly coaxed him back into the harbor Saturday only to have him reverse course when two other dolphins showed up, Wallerstein said.

"As soon as he saw them, he changed his behavior immediately and swam back under the bridge," Wallerstein said. "I've never seen that type of interaction.

"He chose to be in here for some reason."

He said another attempt to encourage the dolphin back to sea would be made Monday.

2 Pa. girls sunbathing in road hit by car

BEAVER, Pa., April 30 (UPI) -- Two 13-year-old Pennsylvania girls who dozed off while sunbathing on a rural road Sunday were hit by a car driven by a cousin of one of the teens, police said.

The Beaver County Police Department said Samantha Schermanhorn and Kaylie George were flown to a hospital where they were listed in fair condition, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, reported.

Nicole and Nicholas Beck, who are cousins of Schermanhorn, said their 19-year-old brother had stopped at an intersection before making a turn and hitting the two sunbathing teens.

The Becks said their brother was questioned by authorities, but it was just an accident.

African antelope escapes Ohio safari

HURON TOWNSHIP, Ohio, April 29 (UPI) -- Ohio authorities used a tranquilizer gun to subdue an African eland antelope that escaped a safari resort, police said.

The 1,000-pound animal broke free from Kalahari Resorts' Safari Adventures Animal Park in Huron Township Friday, causing a scare for some local residents, The Lorain Morning Journal reported Saturday.

A resident near the resort called police after noticing the animal -- which is more than 5-1/2 feet tall at the shoulder -- standing behind his home.

Sgt. Dan Kautz said the Erie County Sheriff's Office routinely deals with livestock, "but not animals you'd find on an African plain."

An animal handler shot the antelope with a tranquilizer dart, causing it to flee toward U.S. 250 before passing out, the newspaper reported.

"It couldn't pass out in the woods," Deputy Johann Matute said with a laugh. "It had to make a spectacle there at 250 for all to see."

The animal is under observation at Safari Adventures, the animal park said in a statement.

Bear tranquilized on Colorado campus

BOULDER, Colo., April 28 (UPI) -- In a brush with the wild, police in Boulder, Colo., tranquilized a black bear that was roaming around the University of Colorado's campus.

For about 2 1/2 hours Thursday morning, the bear nosed around the campus in search of food.

Rhonda Chestnutt, a CU employee, told the Boulder Daily Camera the bear brushed past her outside the Williams Village dorm complex.

"It was like 'Excuse me, pardon me, coming through.' It was running full speed," she said. "I felt privileged to have the encounter."

Police brought the romp to an end about 10 a.m., when they shot the bear out of a tree with two tranquilizer darts. The bear landed on its back on padding placed below the tree.

Jennifer Churchill, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said bears emerge from hibernation in March and April to scavenge for food.

"We took him in a truck and are driving him out to a bear habitat and hope he'll stay out that way," she said.