A Hysterical Ape, Dog-Racing Monkeys and a Terrifying Snake Infestation: Top Patch Animal Stories Of 2015

A Connecticut man’s trip to Barcelona gave us our favorite animal moment of 2015, and all it took was a simple magic trick.

Dan Zaleski was at the Barcelona zoo, sitting in front of an observant orangutan, when he put a round object in a cup, put the lid on it, shook it up and opened it.

Animals gave us plenty of great moments in 2015, from a cow in a mineshaft to a massive python that called Kentucky police into action to a politician trying to ban a hilarious county fair attraction.

We had enough great pet stories in 2015 to create a separate list for our favorite domesticated critters. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, here were our favorite animal stories in 2015 from across the Patch network of 910 local news sites:

Watch: Orangutan Goes Into Hysterics Over Magic Trick

An orangutan freaked out when a human put an object in a cup and made it “disappear.” You have to see the hilarious reaction.

Drunk Woman Bit Trying To Pet Tiger At Omaha Zoo After Hours: Police

Breaking into a zoo and petting a tiger might sound like a good idea -- if you’re really drunk. As this story from Omaha shows definitively: It’s not.

Politician Tries to Stop Monkeys from Racing Dogs

The banana derby race at the Lake County Fair involves a monkey dressed as a jockey riding on top of a dog. But not if one politician gets his way.

Man Running from Cops Stops to Pet Cats, Goes to Jail

While it’s often recommended people stop and smell the flowers, taking time out to pet cats can lead to arrest. At least that was the case for a Boca Raton man who, in the middle of fleeing police, stopped by a home, asked for water and the proceeded to lay down and play with the homeowner’s cats.

WATCH: Mama Bear And Cubs Go Swimming In Backyard Pool

As a heat wave rolled through New Jersey, followed by humidity and rain, one family of bruins couldn’t bear the temperatures anymore.

• Also See: Pastafarians, Rampaging Turkeys and Porn on the Loudspeaker at Target: Top Weird News Stories on Patch in 2015

WATCH: Men On Horseback Flee From Police In Texas Neighborhood

A group of intoxicated men take flight from police in Texas -- on horseback.

11-Foot Gator Eats Burglar

A 22-year-old man reportedly out to burglarize a few homes found out the hard way that crime doesn’t pay.

Photo: Police Save Kentucky Pet Store Owner from Massive Python Attack

What happens when a pet store owner gets attacked by a 125-pound python? Police in Kentucky find out.

‘Flying Spiders’ Invade Chicago

A Chicago hotel warned guests to keep their windows closed to keep out an invasion of flying spiders.

WATCH: Molly The Cow Rescued From 30-Foot Mineshaft Thanks To UC Davis Vets

A 9-year-old cow falls down a mineshaft. As they say on the Internet: you won’t believe what happens next.

Rude Awakening! Watch These Two Cute Dogs React To East Bay Earthquake

A California family catches their dogs’ reaction to an earthquake on a home surveillance camera.

Snake Infestation Chases Family Out of Home

A Maryland couple are driven out of the dream home they had recently moved into by an infestation of slithering snakes.