Can swans really break your arm? And other wildlife myths
There are all sorts of wild and wonderful things in nature – but some stories have little truth behind them. Let’s unpack a few of the UK’s most popular wildlife myths.
Mute swans
Can swans really break your arm?
Swans can be aggressive and you certainly don’t want to go near their nests, but will they actually break your arm? Unlikely.
Swans are large birds with powerful wings, muscular necks and strong beaks – and they could definitely deliver a painful blow. However, if a swan does attack, you’re much more likely to suffer a bruise or scrape than any broken bones.
That said, it’s not worth the risk. Keep your distance from hissing swans, especially in the mating season when they can be particularly hostile. Remember that swans are a protected species, and it’s illegal to harm one.
Daubenton’s bat
Are bats really blind?
Bats might be creatures of the night, but that doesn’t mean they’re blind. In fact, bats actually have very good eyesight. Their eyes are highly sensitive to low-light conditions to enable them to see in near darkness.
However, they usually prefer to use their ears more than their eyes. Bats shout as they fly, using the returning echo to detect what’s ahead – known as echolocation. We can’t hear these sounds as they are so high in frequency.
So, next time you see a bat swooping across the canal surface, think of the high-pitched sounds that go unheard.
Whether you're out in the country or the centre of a city, you'll have a good chance of spotting one on a calm evening
Do toads really cause warts?
Our warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which is contagious. When humans get warts, we take care not to pass them on.
Toads are warty creatures, but they cannot transfer their warts to us. Theirs are actually glands that secrete defensive toxins, and these might irritate our skin, but they won’t give us warts.
Common toad
Can ducks really not fly?
Take a walk along the towpath and you’re likely to spot a duck flapping its wings as it takes flight. In fact, many ducks are skilled fliers. Species like the goldeneye are fast fliers, while wigeons and pochards migrate impressive distances.
So, where does the myth stem from? The steamer duck (a South American species) gives the duck its reputation as a flightless bird as most are too heavy to take to the air. Most ducks you’ll find on our canals are able to fly.
Nearly three-quarters of us throw leftover bread to the ducks, but it's important to feed them differently
Can bees really only sting once?
No one wants to get stung by a bee – and especially not when you learn that its sting might be the bee’s final act. But how true is this? Not very. Bumblebees (as well as hornets and wasps) can sting multiple times without giving up the ghost themselves. Some male species don’t even have stingers.
In fact, honey bees are the only species that lose their stinger and die soon after one sting. This is because their stingers are barbed, which get lodged in their victim’s skin. Other bee species have smooth stingers that can attack again and again.
