What kills swans?

[Octavious]

The local canal is home to a fair few swans, and this time of year the village Facebook group is full of photos of baby swans following their parents back and forth. This year the closest ma and pa have nine little bundles of terror, destined to become what are undoubtedly some of the most evil creatures on the planet.

Now it doesn't take a mathematical genius to work out that at this rate of swan production the entire country would be covered by the things pretty damned quick without some serious population control, but what on earth is it?

It ain't people, as killing swans is treason punishable by death. Nor is it starvation, as their plentiful natural food is supplemented by countless gormless humans willing to give them extra nibbles. They tend to avoid traffic, and are vicious buggers who can handle themselves in a fight, so what happens to them all?

[dipperjay]

Dogs, foxes, raccoons, wolves, but also birds (owls, hawks, herons) and even snapping turtles. To your point, most target the young cygnets and leave the adults alone. And humans of course (for feathers and meat)...

[Carl Tuckerson]

The local canal is home to a fair few swans, and this time of year the village Facebook group is full of photos of baby swans following their parents back and forth. This year the closest ma and pa have nine little bundles of terror, destined to become what are undoubtedly some of the most evil creatures on the planet.

Now it doesn't take a mathematical genius to work out that at this rate of swan production the entire country would be covered by the things pretty damned quick without some serious population control, but what on earth is it?

It ain't people, as killing swans is treason punishable by death. Nor is it starvation, as their plentiful natural food is supplemented by countless gormless humans willing to give them extra nibbles. They tend to avoid traffic, and are vicious buggers who can handle themselves in a fight, so what happens to them all?

Monsters. Monsters target beautiful swans. You're not a monster are you Octavious???

[jmo1121109]

Other swans apparently.

[Smokey Gem]

They are not really hurt or gone they just took a dive.( a thinking persons comment).

If it has been unseasonably warm , algae with toxins can build up in slow moving waterways , these get into the food chain and bingo..

Or if your an Australian ( like we all are on webdip) The Swans have had a terrible start to the AFL season in which case.

Adelaide Crows killed Swans
Melbourne Demons killed Swans
Western Bulldogs Killed Swans
Richmond Tigers Killed Swans
GWS Giants killed Swans
Brisbane Lions Killed Swans


all in all not a good time to be a swan lover.

[Percy Williams]

It's a Swan eat swan world out there.

[TrPrado]

My aunt told me a story about how their neighbors had some swans behind their yard and someone brought a dog over one day and it ripped off the male swan’s beak and it ended up dying so the female swan couldn’t have baby swans anymore.

[Tom Bombadil]

Playing for a draw kills swans.

Think of that every time you play it safe for a draw. One less swan in this world...

[Percy Williams]

Playing for a draw kills swans.

Think of that every time you play it safe for a draw. One less swan in this world...

*Number of draws increases 78%*