Flea Circus Performers Killed By Cold Spell

It's been a long winter, but at least you're still alive. That's not the case for hundreds of the world's most talented fleas, who were frozen to death last week while preparing for a tour show. German flea circus director Robert Birk told the Associated Press that he found all 300 of his highly trained fleas dead inside their transport box last Wednesday morning.

As the operator of one of the world's few remaining touring flea circuses, Birk had to quickly train 50 replacement fleas to valiantly step into the show in place of their fallen comrades. The circus kept a previously booked appearance at the open-air fair in Mechernich-Kommern, Germany.

No, this is NOT an April Fools' Day joke; we thought the same thing. Flea circuses are apparently, uh, big in Germany (just like David Hasselhoff). There's even video proof:

Pretty incredible stuff, eh? What bugs us is why Birk never trained the fleas to use a thermostat or call for help. Seems like something worth pursuing with the replacement insects.