Ask the Swan Specialist

In Response To: Re: My swan tries to kill me (The Regal Swan)

Hi Lori:
No, he is not trying to kill you, he is just trying to reclaim his pond. He probably does not know that his other caretaker is gone and is confused about why you are taking over. So, you must retake the pond. You must become the bigger swan.

First, go get you a very large net or a large blanket/sheet.

Second, every time you run, he wins. So, quit running, stand your ground.

Let him come at you. DO NOT move. Let him get within reach and place the net, sheet or blanket gently over his head. Yell, NO. Gently grab him holding his wings secure. He may bite, but your major concern is the wings so that neither of you get hurt. You may need to have someone else standing nearby so that when you get him in the net, they can assist you in rendering the capture. Drop the net and leave it where you captured him.

Once you have him in your grasp, wrap him in the sheet or blanket. Take him inside to a shed, garage, barn, bathroom or other safe secure area where he cannot hurt himself and there are no predators, fumes etc. Place him on some towels or sheets so that he cannot hurt his legs and sit beside him, still controlling his wings. Pet his head, let him know that this is unacceptable swan behavior. Talk to him. Keep him in time-out for approximately 30 minutes. Then, tell him he is a good swan, but you will not tolerate any further problems. Gently release him back on the pond near the net so that you can grab the net if necessary. Move away from the wings so that he cannot strike you. If he comes back at you, yell NO, place the net over his head and repeat the entire process again. It is only going to take 1-2 time-outs and he will realize that he is no longer the big swan on the pond. This should calm the situation and put you back in control. Please let us know how this works out. The Regal Swan
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