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Swans are terrorizing a British village. A 12th-century law means the villagers can't fight back.
Vox ^ | February 2, 2016 | Amanda Taub

Posted on 02/02/2016 1:36:19 PM PST by C19fan

A villainous pair of swans have been tormenting the good citizens of Brimscombe, a tiny village in the Cotswolds, with such viciousness that it's become national news. According to Metro UK, the two swans have vandalized property, harassed vehicles on public thoroughfares, and even attacked children.

Local residents, Metro reports, have been forced to go about armed with water pistols because the authorities refuse to step in. Swans, local officials inform the fearful residents, are "protected animals."

(Excerpt) Read more at vox.com ...


TOPICS: History; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: royalty; swans
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To: toast

My border collie looks exactly like that picture. And she loves to run right at a huge gaggle of geese and sen them flying in the air or into the lake. Collies can handle any water fowl with easy. And they find it quite fun.


21 posted on 02/02/2016 1:53:48 PM PST by poinq
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To: katana

Hunting a Swan can be easily done with a Callaway driver. FOURRRR!!! And for the beek.


22 posted on 02/02/2016 1:57:25 PM PST by poinq
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To: cripplecreek

“Mute Swans are a destructive invasive species here and you can’t kill them.”

You clearly need a .22 and a suppressor.


23 posted on 02/02/2016 1:59:22 PM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: hadaclueonce

We have a pair that come to our several acre pond/lake every year to nest. They go door to door begging for food. It’s kinda cool! They’re big birds!


24 posted on 02/02/2016 2:09:08 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: poinq

“Canadian geese aren’t that nice either.”

We have Canada Geese that hang out ne one of the ponds, and they’re on the street all the time. I have a green Highlander, and if I’m driving towards them, they ignore me and won’t get out of the way. Last Winter we had a big snow storm, and the front of my car was completely covered in white snow. As I approached them, they panicked and burst into flight. Only thing I can figure is thay thought my car was a polar bear looking for lunch!


25 posted on 02/02/2016 2:16:25 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: C19fan

No, Officer, I don’t know anything about the disappearance of those lovely birds. What a shame. That smell? Oh, right - the wife’s cooking chicken for supper tonight. G’day!


26 posted on 02/02/2016 2:21:49 PM PST by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: cripplecreek

Mute swans are not mute; they can blare like a bugle or bark like a dog.

And when an angry cob (male) is guarding the pen (female) on her nest, he deploys knucklebone on his wings that can break a human arm.

BTW, roast swan was later replaced by roast turkey from the New World. Much less greasy.


27 posted on 02/02/2016 2:26:20 PM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: kingu

Probably why my ancestors left.


28 posted on 02/02/2016 2:37:22 PM PST by dhs12345
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To: C19fan

Hmm...I’m wondering if there’s a local falconry shop that might be persuaded to “accidentally” let one of its more aggressive (and hungry) residents out of its cage?

Problem solved, and no follow up investigation from the local constabulary.


29 posted on 02/02/2016 2:39:14 PM PST by DemforBush (Ex-Democrat, and NOT for Jeb. Just so we're *perfectly* clear this time.)
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To: thackney

If one of those vermin hurt my kid, there would be a scrumptious Sunday supper.


30 posted on 02/02/2016 2:54:43 PM PST by BigEdLB (Take it Easy, Chuck. I'm Not Taking it Back -- Donald Trump)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
They are big birds!

A big bird with a spear bill...

31 posted on 02/02/2016 3:06:15 PM PST by hadaclueonce (I thought Ethanol was the devil, now i find it is America is an Oligarchy)
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To: hadaclueonce

More like a big duck bill.


32 posted on 02/02/2016 3:27:12 PM PST by poinq
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To: cripplecreek

Send ‘em all to the Flint area. I hear the water is fine...


33 posted on 02/02/2016 3:32:43 PM PST by NoCmpromiz (John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
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To: moose07

If it’s roasted does it look like a goose?


34 posted on 02/02/2016 3:34:05 PM PST by NoCmpromiz (John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
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To: toast

Beautiful dog, how I love them! We had a bad Canada goose year where I worked a decade ago, a large research campus like a university. Called in a couple of dog trainers who had border collies. Lost a lot of work watching them from the windows, and it was quite a show. That one in your pic is cracking me up to remember. You can feel him thinking from here.


35 posted on 02/02/2016 3:40:59 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: NoCmpromiz

LoL,
Have never seen one roasted.
They aren’t a problem when they become aggressive.
Let them grab your finger, place thumb on top of beak and lower the head to the ground.
They then can’t injure their wings as they cool down, talking to them soothingly helps reduce any panic that can set in when the brain runs out of ideas to break free.
Watching them go cat5 on any nearby ducks afterwards is always funny.


36 posted on 02/02/2016 4:28:10 PM PST by moose07 (DMCS (Dit Me Cong San ) - Nah. Okay ,who ordered the Cheese Toasty?)
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