Attack of the unpleasant pheasant: The village 'terrorised' by bad bird George (well they do feed him raisins dipped in RUM!)

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 09:51 EST, 8 February 2012


Villagers in Wootton, Staffordshire, are being terrorised by an unpleasant pheasant.

The attacks are so aggressive that the postman - more used to attacks from dogs - has even armed himself with a stick on his rounds.

But nearby experts say the best way of pacifying the bird, who has been nicknamed George, would be to feed him raisins soaked in rum.

Aggressive: 'George' confronts a local newspaper reporter investigating reports of his aggressive ways

Aggressive: 'George' confronts a local newspaper reporter investigating reports of his aggressive ways

The feisty pheasant spends his days chasing off intruders - including the village’s unfortunate postman, who now carries a stick while doing his rounds.

The pheasant has been nicknamed 'George' by artists Simon Manby and Lee Mackay, who run Forge Farm Studio in the village and have to suffer regular confrontations with the bird.

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.

Territorial: George has caused the local postman to carry a stick on his rounds

Territorial: George has caused the local postman to carry a stick on his rounds

'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  breeding season, due around February or March.

Unpleasant: The pheasant may be aggressive, because he is nearing his breeding season

Unpleasant: The pheasant may be aggressive, because he is nearing his breeding season

Wounded: Simon Manby shows off the result of George's attentions

Wounded: Simon Manby shows off the result of George's attentions

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 gamekeepers 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.'

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