Postman uses stick to battle vicious raisin-loving pheasant

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildli ... asant.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A village postman has resorted to arming himself with stick to deter an aggressive pheasant who lives at the bottom of a resident's garden.

Villagers in Wootton, Staffordshire, are being terrorised by the bird, which regularly attempts to peck anyone who comes near.

Locals have now discovered the only way of pacifying the bird is to feed him raisins soaked in rum.

The pheasant has been nick-named "George" by artists Simon Manby and Lee Mackay, who run Forge Farm Studio in the village and have to suffer regular confrontations with their feathered foe.

Mr Manby, who was left nursing a bleeding hand after one altercation with George, said: "He doesn't really frighten me, because he doesn't bite - he just pecks. And he doesn't like it if I walk through our gateway before him.

"We first started to notice him a couple of weeks ago when the postman started arriving with a stick in his hand. He's more scared of George than he is of dogs.

"He's not here all the time but it's every day. I think he must be roosting somewhere nearby and most of the time he sits guarding the place on a sign at the bottom of our garden."

Ashbourne Field Club member Mike Gadsby, who helps at pheasant shoots in Okeover and Ednaston, said he's not surprised to hear of George and his territorial tendencies, as it is nearing his breeding season, due around February or March.

He said: "Males do get very territorial and aggressive and will often peck at you. They can make a mess actually.

"We get them at Okeover and even get the odd one or two that chase the game keepers on their quads, or jump up at them.

"He could well have hens nearby in a harem and if he has, and he's got somewhere to roost, he could well choose to stay in Wootton - but he might calm down once he's taken his aggressions out on the hens."

Mr Gadsby has also recommended a tried and tested way of pacifying George - by feeding him raisins that have been soaked in rum.

He said: "It gets them drunk and then you can catch them and take them elsewhere."

[DGP1]

Or how about the postman refuses to carry an offensive weapon because it's illegal and then stops delivering their mail..............I guess the problem would soon be sorted out (pheasant roast anyone?).

[fishtank]

He could well have hens nearby in a harem

Is that an obligation for a pheasant or George's personal lifestyle choice?
Either way i like his style.

[DGP1]

He could well have hens nearby in a harem

Is that an obligation for a pheasant or George's personal lifestyle choice?
Either way i like his style.

Is he a pheasant or a Tory

[clashcityrocker]

Locals have now discovered the only way of pacifying the bird is to feed him raisins soaked in rum.

I wonder how long it took them to get the correct mix of dried fruit and alcohol.
Imagine how pissed off George was the day they turned up with sultanas soaked in Ouzo.

[Lounge Lizard]

He said: "It gets them drunk and then you can catch them and take them elsewhere."
- nothing new there then.

[red1968]

He said: "It gets them drunk and then you can catch them and take them elsewhere."
- nothing new there then.

classe

[Lounge Lizard]

He said: "It gets them drunk and then you can catch them and take them elsewhere."
- nothing new there then.

classe

- and the pheasant plucker gets his evil way.