Ever stumbled upon something strange while walking down the street? We’re talking beyond the usual discarded appliances and sad-looking toothbrushes. Imagine finding a massive pile of pasta or a bag writhing with live snakes! People dump the weirdest things, and sometimes, there’s just no explaining why. So, let’s dive into a list of ten of the most unbelievably bizarre items ever abandoned in public.
10. A Macaroni Mountain
In early May 2023, residents of Old Bridge, New Jersey, were shocked to discover hundreds of pounds of pasta dumped near a creek. Spaghetti, macaroni, you name it – it was all there! The Department of Public Works estimated about “15 wheelbarrow loads of illegally dumped pasta.” Surprisingly, the pasta was uncooked, its limp appearance caused by recent rainfall.
Rumors flew about its origin: a competitive eating event gone wrong? A teen hiding leftovers? The truth was less exciting. The pasta came from a house for sale; a military veteran cleaning out his deceased mother’s stockpile decided to take matters into his own hands.
9. Sixteen Slippery Snakes
Imagine finding a nest of snakes outside a fire station! That’s what happened in Sunderland, England. Sixteen live snakes were found, following a previous discovery of thirteen royal pythons in the same spot. Sadly, one snake died.
RSPCA inspector Heidi Cleaver emphasized the stress the snakes endured being in close quarters and the luck they had surviving the cold, as snakes rely on their environment to regulate body temperature. The snakes were taken to a specialist reptile facility to recover. The identity of the reptile abandoner remains a mystery.
8. Protesting with Produce
Carrots aren’t just good for your eyes; they can also make a statement! In 2015, French tobacconists, furious over government plans to introduce plain cigarette packets, dumped 4.4 tons of carrots outside the Socialist Party headquarters in Paris.
The tobacconists chose carrots because they resemble the signs outside French cigarette shops. Thousands protested as the parliament discussed the proposals. While the Sénat voted against plain packets, they increased the size of health warnings. The bill was expected to return later that year.
7. Manure Mayhem
In a truly “dirty protest,” climate activists from Extinction Rebellion dumped 7.7 tons of manure outside the offices of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Independent, and Evening Standard in London in 2021.
Their message? Ending media corruption that suppresses the truth for profit. The group targeted the billionaire owners, urging them to stop “greenwashing the climate crisis.” The protest led to six arrests and charges under the Highways Act.
6. A Guilty Conscience?
In 2014, Australian police in Victoria found a dead koala on their driveway with $50 rolled up in its mouth. It seemed an apparent koala killer sought to make amends.
Sergeant Jason Von Tunk was perplexed. While there was no evidence of cruelty, the koala had a head injury, suggesting it was hit by a car. The koala was buried, and the money was logged. The motive remains a mystery.
5. Rotten to the Core
In 2023, protesters in London dumped over one thousand “bad apples” outside New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police. This act, organized by the domestic abuse charity Refuge, highlighted abuse allegations involving officers.
The Met is reviewing allegations of violence against women and girls made against 1,071 police officers and staff, after a former officer admitted to dozens of rapes and sexual offenses. The force said it was reviewing these cases to ensure appropriate decisions were made.
4. A Display of Power
Striking French energy workers in Marseille dumped disused gas and electricity meters outside a government building in April, protesting government plans to increase the retirement age.
Police arrested 13 union members after the meters were strewn and a small firecracker was set off. The act of disobedience occurred amid volatile protests sparked by the unpopular pension reforms.
3. Another Porkuliar Dump
In North Hertfordshire, England, hundreds of pigs’ ears were found dumped in a ditch earlier this year, marking the second such incident in four months.
Over 60 bags of pigs’ ears were illegally dumped near a busy intersection. Pigs’ ears are often used as natural dog treats. The dumped ears were tattooed for livestock identification, potentially aiding in tracing their origin.
Jeanette Thompson, from North Hertfordshire Council, noted the disgusting nature of the dump and the potential for a horrific smell and vermin attraction. The motive remains a mystery.
2. Free Range Chicken
A woman in Tameside, England, was caught on CCTV dumping a live chicken outside a stranger’s home. Homeowners Christine and Kevin Wilkinson were baffled.
The couple took the bird in but wondered why the woman left the chicken. They speculated the owners might be moving but believed there were better options than dumping the animal on the street.
1. Chilled Crocodiles
In August 2015, Australian police were shocked to find up to 70 crocodile heads in a freezer near Darwin. These heads belonged to saltwater crocodiles, a protected species.
The area has a lucrative trade in crocodile skins, used for handbags and shoes. Killing protected wildlife is illegal, with hefty fines and jail time. While finding strange things in freezers isn’t unusual, the sheer number of crocodile heads was shocking.
From mountains of pasta to chilled crocodile heads, the world is full of strange and inexplicable dumps. These bizarre incidents remind us that sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction. What will people dump next?
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen dumped? Share your stories in the comments below!
