If you live somewhere close to wildlife and a body of water then you’ve probably seen some swans swimming around.
These birds are beautiful and elegant and you may want to know if you can pet them, this article looks into it
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Can you pet a swan?
Wild animals are wild animals regardless of how beautiful they are, you should be cautious around wild animals but yes, some of these animals can be pet.
Swans are animals that can be pet, but there are a few things to consider before deciding to do this
Expect the side eye:
If you look at things from the perspective of a swan you’d also give yourself the side eye.
A weird-looking animal (a human) suddenly coming close to you if you were a swan will be odd so the bird may be cautious and keep a close eye on what you’re doing.
These birds are quite large and aren’t so fearful of humans but they will keep a close eye on you when you’re around. But, if you pet the bird gently and the bird realizes that you aren’t there to hurt it then you should be fine.
They can be aggressive:
Swans may not look too aggressive but this bird will bring out some aggression if provoked.
If you do something that threatens the bird then the bird will act out. These birds have powerful wings and they may flap them and hiss at you as a way of launching an attack on you.
This aggression will usually be seen if you approach their nest or threaten their chicks. If they do attack you then you’ll probably be left with some minor injuries.
If a swan does try to attack you do not run away as the birds see this as a sign of aggression, rather back away slowly till you’re far away from the bird.
If the bird starts to charge at you you’d need to make yourself seem threatening by hissing back at the bird and raising your arms over your head. Stomping forward in small steps will also intimidate the bird.
They can bite:
Not only can a swan attack you but the bird may also try to bite you as you try to pet them, the bird may bite out of fear or may bite your hand thinking that it is food, and swan bites can be painful
Swan bills don’t have teeth but the bills have serrated edges that can puncture the skin if the bird bites hard enough and this can draw blood
They can be friendly:
If you’re trying to pet a swan that is used to positive human interaction then the bird will be friendly towards you. These types of swans don’t see humans as a threat as they have likely been given food by humans.
However, because they have been given food they may expect food from you. You can give the birds treats like fruits and vegetables to get them to see you as friendly but be sure not to do this too often or else they will rely on you for food.
How to pet a swan:
If you’ve established a relationship with the swan and it realizes that you aren’t a threat then you can go ahead and pet it.
You’ll know that the bird doesn’t see you as a threat if it doesn’t hiss at you when you come close to it.
Start off slowly and gently making sure not to make any sudden movements when you do this. If the bird becomes startled then the bird will hiss, charge, and then attack you
Always be aware of the bird’s behavior and demeanor when you try to pet it.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other duck related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: How To Tell If A Swan Is Angry, Do Swans Recognize Humans?, How Do Swans Show Affection To Humans?, How Do Swans Hug?, Do Swans Die When Their Mate Dies?, Can Swans Hurt Dogs?
