LEAWOOD, Kan. — A swan that’s been living in a Leawood, Kansas, subdivision for more than seven years is at the center of a neighborhood dispute.
Some say the swan is too aggressive and needs to find a new home, while others argue it’s a gentle bird who’s been mistreated and misunderstood.
The swan’s name is Fred. He lives in a private pond in an Italianate neighborhood called Tuscany Reserve.
“A lot of people here enjoy how peaceful he is and calm,” Debby Haas said.
But not everyone enjoys Fred. In fact the neighborhood association is meeting Tuesday to discuss Fred’s future. Some neighbors say Fred has become too aggressive and frightens young children by charging them when they are standing near the pond.
“I wanted Fred to have a voice,” said Haas, who notified FOX 4 Problem Solvers concerned about Fred’s fate.
Since Fred’s not much of a talker, Haas is speaking for him, pointing out that Fred, who can no longer fly because his wings are clipped, has lived here longer than many of the homeowners.
Although some neighbors accuse Fred of charging people, Haas believes the only people Fred bothers are people who bother Fred.
“If children throw rocks at him or hit him in the head with sticks then he gets upset,” Haas said.
Steve Rockwood, who takes care of many of the homes in the subdivision, is also a Fred supporter. He said Fred is so gentle he can feed him bread by hand and even pet him.
“There have been people for and against him ever since I’ve been here,” Rockwood said. “I’ve been here seven years.”
Fred is a Mute Swan, a breed that originated in Europe, according to Kimberly Hess, the director of Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City. Because Fred is not native to the area, he is not protected by federal law and can legally be moved.
But instead of moving Fred, she said there are things people can do to help Fred become a better neighbor. The easiest one is to stop feeding him by hand.
“You don’t want to hand feed them because they are not going to be afraid of people,” Hess said.
Instead, Fred’s food, which should preferably be grain and not bread, should be placed in a feeder. That way he’ll stop approaching people who he probably thinks might have food.
If Fred bothers you, Hess suggests you clearly let him know you don’t want him around by flashing your arms, being loud and big. That should chase him back into the pond where Fred can safely show off his beauty, but without all the attitude.
