Sports provide unparalleled excitement, and animals, in their own right, are endlessly fascinating. When these two worlds unexpectedly collide, the result is often a moment of unforgettable, sometimes chaotic, brilliance.
Just recently, spectators at Yankee Stadium experienced one such encounter during a Friday game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, when a squirrel made a brief, yet notable, appearance in the fourth inning.
The intrepid squirrel first emerged from behind home plate, pausing momentarily near Jhostynxon Garcia`s left foot. After a quick dash to the third base foul line, it briefly attempted to burrow into the ground near the pitcher`s mound, before finally exiting the field along the right field line.
Such an event is far from an isolated incident in sports history. Over the years, countless games have been unexpectedly halted or enlivened by curious creatures – from a sportswriter’s dog disrupting a Georgia football game to the frequent bat appearances that have become a peculiar tradition in San Antonio. In tribute to these captivating wildlife interventions, let`s revisit some of the most remarkable animal appearances on the sporting stage.
What: Squirrel
Where: Detroit, Michigan
When: 2025
This agile squirrel swiftly navigated the outfield, eventually reaching the warning track before finding its way into the Tigers` bullpen during the opening inning of a San Francisco Giants-Detroit Tigers game.
What: Snake
Where: Charlotte, North Carolina
When: 2025
During the second round of the 2025 PGA Championship, golfers and spectators alike were treated to an unexpected wildlife spectacle when a snake made an appearance. The serpent gracefully slithered across the course, seemingly making a beeline for a golf ball before veering past it.
What: Bunny
Where: Norman, Oklahoma
When: 2025
A collegiate baseball game at L. Dale Mitchell Park saw an interruption by a small rabbit. In the top of the fourth inning, with two outs, the bunny hopped onto the field from the third-base side, scurried behind home plate, and then quickly vanished towards the bullpen.
What: Squirrel
Where: Oxford, Mississippi
When: 2024
An SEC conference game between Ole Miss and Oklahoma at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was briefly paused when a squirrel decided to join the action. Near the close of the first quarter, the squirrel made a dash from the 17-yard line all the way to the end zone, almost scoring a `touchdown` before disappearing into a tunnel.
What: Insect
Where: New York City
When: 2024
In a quarterfinal match at the 2024 US Open, tennis stars Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov faced an unusual opponent: an insect. During a pause in play, Tiafoe spotted a dark-colored bug on the court, prompting ball boys to rush over and spend about 30 seconds attempting to capture it by hand before the game could continue.
What: Raccoon
Where: Chester, Pennsylvania
When: 2024
A soccer match between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC at Subaru Park in Philadelphia was briefly interrupted by an unexpected furry guest. A raccoon leisurely ambled onto the field mid-first half, skillfully dodging staff attempts at removal. After a 161-second escapade, the raccoon was finally escorted off the pitch.
What: Turtle
Where: Bradenton, Florida
When: 2024
A minor league baseball game involving the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, experienced a brief pause due to a turtle`s unexpected visit. The surprisingly swift reptile meandered across the outfield for a short period before pitcher Magdiel Cotto successfully and safely removed it from the playing area.
What: Bees
Where: Chase Field, Arizona
When: 2024
Before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Arizona Diamondbacks were met with an unusual delay when a colony of bees settled on the protective netting behind home plate. This led to a significant one-hour and 55-minute delay, as reported by the Diamondbacks. Professional beekeeper Matt Hilton from Blue Sky Pest Control was called in. Hilton, who was at his son`s T-ball game when he received the call, quickly became an unexpected hero. He told MLB Network, “I thought I was just here to take care of a bee problem, and people were pretty hyped up.” Following his successful bee removal, Hilton was even invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
What: Cat
Where: Angel Stadium, California
When: 2024
The end of April seems to hold a special charm for animal appearances on the baseball diamond. On the very same night the Diamondbacks were contending with bees, the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies had their own furry interruption: a cat. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the cat made a swift dash across the field, eventually finding its way into the Phillies` dugout. Mercifully, as commentators noted, it wasn`t a black cat, averting any potential superstitions.
What: Squirrel
Where: Yankees Stadium, New York
When: 2023
An early 2023 season game at Yankee Stadium provided another squirrel spectacle, as one of the furry creatures dashed across the outfield wall, much to the crowd`s delight. Happily, this `grand tour` concluded without harm to either the squirrel or the spectators.
What: Bats
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
When: 2009 — and again in 2019
Bats, for many, can be quite unsettling, especially when they appear unexpectedly. The AT&T Center, home to the San Antonio Spurs, has a storied history of such winged interruptions. The first notable incident occurred in October 2009, during a Spurs game against the Sacramento Kings. In a moment of remarkable agility, the then-Spurs player Manu Ginobili managed to swat down and capture the intruding bat himself – a fitting Halloween night event.
However, this was not the end of San Antonio`s bat saga. In January, a game against the Brooklyn Nets was delayed when not one, but four bats, caused a stir, leading to staff efforts to clear them. Fans, recalling Ginobili`s heroics, began chanting “Manu, Manu, Manu.”
The bats reappeared just a month later during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. This time, it was the Spurs` beloved mascot, The Coyote, who, armed with a fishing net, successfully captured the creature near the scorer`s table, causing a brief 90-second delay. The Coyote once again proved his bat-catching prowess in March of the same year, when yet another bat disrupted a Spurs game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
What: Squirrel
Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis
When: 2011
Picture making your debut in the spotlight and then, in a way, helping win the World Series. This was somewhat the narrative for the `Rally Squirrel,` a grey squirrel that famously darted across home plate at Busch Stadium during Game 3 of the National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals in October 2011. While the game wasn`t delayed, the players` reactions clearly showed their bewilderment.
*Note: Despite extensive searching online, the original video of the `Rally Squirrel` appears to be elusive, perhaps a testament to the simpler digital landscape of 2011. Though the Phillies won Game 3, taking a 2-1 lead in the NLDS, the Cardinals rallied to win Games 4 and 5, advancing to and ultimately winning the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers in seven games, with the `Rally Squirrel` becoming an enduring, albeit unofficial, symbol of their championship run.
What: Cat
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore and MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
When: 2017, 2019
Given their agility, it`s not surprising that cats occasionally find their way into sports stadiums. In 2017, a small kitten made an adorable appearance at M&T Bank Stadium during a game between the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens.
The incident, notably enhanced by Tony Romo`s amusing play-by-play, concluded with stadium staff safely capturing the feline. The story had a heartwarming continuation: a stadium employee adopted the stray, naming her `Rae` in homage to the Ravens. Two years later, in 2019, a black cat garnered attention by running across the field during a `Monday Night Football` clash between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
What: Dog
Where: Dunhill Links Championship, Scotland
When: 2012
Dogs and balls are a natural combination, and Scotland`s renowned dog-friendly culture makes canine appearances at events like the Dunhill Links Championship less surprising. However, in 2012, one particularly enthusiastic dog took its love for balls a step further by snatching Paul Casey`s golf ball directly from the third hole green. Casey remarked, “It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever had happen on a golf course.” He recounted seeing the dog near the 12th tee, following them down the fairway before developing a distinct affection for his ball. Fortunately, Casey was permitted to replace his original ball, and he went on to score a birdie on that hole.
What: Bees
Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
When: 2019
The unpredictable flight patterns and the potential for stings make bees particularly challenging guests. In May, an 18-minute delay occurred at Great American Ball Park when a swarm of bees congregated at the top of the backstop screen, just before the first pitch of a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds. Thankfully, the incident concluded without anyone getting stung.
