Have you ever been bitten by a swan

16-08-2016 06:08PM #1

There is a cafe I like near a harbour and the harbour has a population of swans, people often feed them so they are use to people and often come up to people having I suppose associated people with food. I'm a bit wary of them while I am sure they wouldn't savage anyone they look like they might bit?

Google is trowing up contradictory information, so had anyone every been bitten by a swan.

longshanks · 16-08-2016 06:10PM

No.

Mr.Crinklewood · 16-08-2016 06:11PM

longshanks wrote: »

No.

They must have good taste.

failinis · 16-08-2016 06:14PM

No but I have been pecked and wing slapped by a protective mother swan.

Feeding them should be fine (make sure it is food that is good for swans) and that you do not encroach on young ones.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/m/muteswan/feeding.aspx

Alf Stewart. · 16-08-2016 06:15PM

mariaalice wrote: »

There is a cafe I like near a harbour and the harbour has a population of swans, people often feed them so they are use to people and often come up to people having I suppose associated people with food. I'm a bit wary of them while I am sure they wouldn't savage anyone they look like they might bit?

Google is trowing up contradictory information, so had anyone every been bitten by a swan.

Is it by the port in Amsterdam?

Is it called the Red Rose?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 16-08-2016 06:16PM

I have been nipped by many swans while handling them. They can be aggressive when protecting their young and common sense would suggest giving them space when the cygnets are close by. Generally though, they are no danger.

Akrasia · 16-08-2016 06:20PM

They'll give plenty of warning before they attack. Unless you're completely oblivious or are acting the maggot around their cygnets you've got nothing to worry about.

IvyTheTerrible · 16-08-2016 06:21PM

No. My brother was coming out of a shop one day, and a swan fell dead out of the sky right in front of him. Said he could feel it's feathers brushing his face it was that close! Dangerous yokes.

Widdershins · 16-08-2016 06:24PM

As others say, don't give them any reason to feel threatened. I don't know about biting but their wings are powerful enough to break a human's arm, or so I have heard.

16-08-2016 06:29PM

maybe I am just a scardy cat, but I see people letting their toddlers trow food for them and I think say the swans rushed the child to get the food and knocked it over.

B0jangles · 16-08-2016 06:32PM

Yeah, I've been accidentally nipped a good few times by swans reaching for food I was giving them and it's nothing - a mild pinch is about the worst you'll get.

setanta1984 · 16-08-2016 06:32PM

You feed beefburgers to swans.

Outlaw Pete · 16-08-2016 06:37PM

A myth was circulated (by worried parents in an attempt tp stop kids getting to close to them) many moons ago, that they were mad dangerous and a slap from their wings would break your arm etc, but there's not a bit of truth to it.

Quite often have swan for lunch. Bit chewy.

Stigura · 16-08-2016 06:39PM

Bitten by, let me see ..... Chimpanzee. Mole. Swan. Pit Bull. Hedgehog. Small, working terrier. I could probably go on.

Believe me; I'd rather be smothered in swan food and thrown to them than I ever would face another mole bite.

The thing about swans wings breaking human bones is an urban myth older than even urban areas.

Swans dropping out of the sky though? Ye wouldn't want to be under one.

Akrasia · 16-08-2016 06:42PM

Stigura wrote: »

Bitten by, let me see ..... Chimpanzee. Mole. Swan. Pit Bull. Hedgehog. Small, working terrier. I could probably go on.

Believe me; I'd rather be smothered in swan food and thrown to them than I ever would face another mole bite.

The thing about swans wings breaking human bones is an urban myth older than even urban areas.

Swans dropping out of the sky though? Ye wouldn't want to be under one.

They're mad for the power lines. I've seen a few of them get zapped....

Hold on a minute, why did you get bitten by a mole?

Stigura · 16-08-2016 06:46PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Hold on a minute, why did you get bitten by a mole?

Yeah. Had a couple hit the lines here

Mole? It burst out of the ground and, like a complete carrot, I instinctively grabbed the bloody thing! Never trying that again!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 16-08-2016 07:07PM

Stigura wrote: »

Yeah. Had a couple hit the lines here

Mole? It burst out of the ground and, like a complete carrot, I instinctively grabbed the bloody thing! Never trying that again!

Not in Ireland obviously.

ToddyDoody · 16-08-2016 07:10PM

Bitten, no. Shouted at, yes.

Junkyard Tom · 16-08-2016 07:19PM

A fella I know was mauled by one and had his leg broken by its thrashing wing. I guess it serves him right for trying to take a selfie with it.

maudgonner · 16-08-2016 07:21PM

Swans no.

Geese though - they can be grumpy, hissy, contrary feckers who will chase you and do their damnedest to take a lump out of you. (Goslings are awfully cute though).

Shint0 · 16-08-2016 07:34PM

I was driving by the canal one day on the Parnell Road/ Dolphin Road stretch. One had come out on the road and it seemed to be in a bit of a daze and going wild. I couldn't get past it but there was no way I was getting out to deal with it or move it on. I would have been too nervous around it so I had to wait for the next car that came along. Finally someone managed to get it off the road. When it comes to birds I have to act the damsel in distress.

Stigura · 16-08-2016 08:20PM

Lukas Powerful Mortar wrote: »

Not in Ireland obviously.

I think it might have made it onto the internet, if it had been .....

the evasion_kid · 16-08-2016 08:23PM

Attacked a few times whilst fishing...I always thought they were supposed to be graceful creatures..

cml387 · 16-08-2016 08:26PM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

A fella I know was mauled by one and had his leg broken by its thrashing wing. I guess it serves him right for trying to take a selfie with it.

Moles have wings? A bit awkward to use underground I would have thought.

Shenshen · 16-08-2016 08:41PM

Not bitten, but chased away by them. I was on a little inflatable boat thing, paddling about on the river together with one of my brothers and I suspect we got a bit close to their nest. They're bloody impressive when they're angry.

I've also been chased by geese on my aunt's farm.
I avoid big, white birds these days.

wakka12 · 16-08-2016 08:59PM

Ive been bitten but only because i put my hand near ones face to see its reaction. Just a sore nip, nothing major. They wont bit unless provoked and you'd have to be very close to them to get bitten. And even if you provoked them and were close enough for them to bite you could easily kick with a heavy show and that'd stop them, the only place it'd hurt is on open skin and something they can get their little beak around like side of hand or a finger

Akrasia · 16-08-2016 11:09PM

Shint0 wrote: »

I was driving by the canal one day on the Parnell Road/ Dolphin Road stretch. One had come out on the road and it seemed to be in a bit of a daze and going wild. I couldn't get past it but there was no way I was getting out to deal with it or move it on. I would have been too nervous around it so I had to wait for the next car that came along. Finally someone managed to get it off the road. When it comes to birds I have to act the damsel in distress.

it probably just had an encounter with some power lines. They're big enough that they can survive it but haven't seen those esb safety ads on tv so they literally don't know what hit them.

Discodog · 16-08-2016 11:30PM

I have rescued lots of swans & never been bitten. I put them in a Swan bag to prevent them flapping their wings.

The breaking an arm bit is a myth. There has never been a recorded case of it happening.

They can nip you if aren't careful feeding them. They will get seriously threatening protecting young.

Diemos · 16-08-2016 11:31PM

Yes, in Dublin zoo as a child.
My parents took a photo of me whailing.

Vizzy · 16-08-2016 11:53PM

EndaIsMyDealer wrote: »

Where do you buy swan meat?

Give HRH a ring, she'd know.

Vizzy · 16-08-2016 11:54PM

Diemos wrote: »

Yes, in Dublin zoo as a child.
My parents took a photo of me whailing.

Did you get bitten by the whaile
as well ?

Have you ever been bitten by a swan

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