From Rob: British Blamed for Basra Badgers:

British forces have denied rumours that they released a plague of ferocious badgers into the Iraqi city of Basra.

Word spread among the populace that UK troops had introduced strange man-eating, bear-like beasts into the area to sow panic.

[…]

UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: “We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.