Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Whale vomit chunk worth thousands CHRISTCHURCH, England, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The family of a British 8-year-old who found a chunk of whale vomit on the beach said the find could be worth more than $60,000. Advertisement Charlie Naysmith, of Christchurch, England, said he discovered the chunk of ambergris at Hengistbury Head and took it home. His family researched the object and found out it is worth between $16,000 and $63,000, the Daily Echo of Southampton, England, reported Thursday. The boy's father, Alex Naysmith, said experts were working to determine the exact worth of the item. "He is into nature and is really interested in it. We have discovered it is quite rare and are waiting for some more information from marine biology experts," he said. Experts said ambergris, which is created in the intestines of a sperm whale and comes out in vomit, is prized for its ability to prolong the scent of perfume. Advertisement Cow chip harvest slow for contest PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Organizers of a Wisconsin cow chip throwing contest said production of bovine droppings has been low this year due to the drought. Ellen Paulson, chair of the committee that puts on the annual Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival in Prairie du Sac, said the cow pie harvest in the lead-up to the Saturday contest has been slow, the Sauk Prairie (Wis.) Eagle reported Thursday. "Due to the weather, the cows weren't producing," Paulson said. "When it's hot ... the cows don't eat as much. And what was produced, they just dried up too quick." Paulson said there will be enough cow chips for this year's contest due to stockpiling. However, she said she is concerned about next year's supply. "We generally pick more every year than what we need," she said. "There's always a stash from the year before just in case something like this happens." Bridge closed, 13 bearded men detained PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Police in Oregon said a bridge was closed and 13 bearded men on their way to a breast cancer awareness photo shoot were detained due to an assault rifle. Advertisement Portland police said they responded to 911 calls about two men in a car with an assault rifle near the Burnside Bridge around 7 p.m. Wednesday and arrived to discover 13 members of a club for bearded men wearing military camouflage on the bridge, KPTV, Portland, reported Thursday. Two of the men were holding onto an assault rifle and were arrested on disorderly conduct charges. The other men were detained and released. The men told KATU-TV, Portland, they were on their way to shoot a photo for the breast cancer awareness calendar "Beards for Breasts." "We didn't mean to shake up the community or shut down the Burnside Bridge," club member Matthew Jenkins said. "Just trying to save boobs, you know?" Police said the bridge was reopened after about an hour. Businesses chip in to feed 800-pound pig HAMPTON, N.J., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The owners of a New Jersey farm said they have been able to feed their adopted 800-pound Yorkshire pig with the help of local businesses. Shari and Matt Bylicki, owners of Country Fresh Farms in Hampton, said they adopted John Henry the pig as their pet after his previous owner died last year. Shari mentioned to a friend who works at the local Washington Diner that they were having trouble coming up with the pig's required 10 gallons of food per day, the Warren (N.J.) Reporter reported Thursday. Advertisement The diner began giving the Bylickis a tub of fresh table scraps each day and the owners of Bishop's Market in Whitehouse offered boxes of unsold lettuce and fruit. The couple said the donated food has been sufficient to feed John Henry and their three smaller pigs for the past year. "After people read about John Henry, it became a real community effort to care for him," Shari Bylicki said.
