Vulture Invades Newsroom

Inviting animals into a TV studio can be unpredictable and that can make for some funny viewing — and anxious, if not scary, moments for the show's anchors.

Busch Gardens Tampa brought a black vulture named Attila into the WSVN studio on the set of the local program "Deco Drive." Minutes after entering the studio, Attila took off for the conduits and rafters right above anchors.

But the show must go on. At one point, Attila flapped her 5-foot wings and viewers could hear an unrehearsed call of the wild — not from the bird, but from startled host Lynn Martinez, who interrupted some video being shown of actress Lucy Liu.

Martinez apologized to viewers and explained what was happening in the studio.

Busch Gardens' handlers tried spreading a favorite bird snack out on the floor — worms — but Attila just ignored them. They tried using a net on a stick, but that didn't work.

Finally, at about 2:30 in the morning, long after the anchors and crew left the building, the handlers finally caught Attila and put an end to the long day.