When Animals Attack

Here are a couple of stories that caught my eye back in June that share a common theme: From boing boing:

Dale Rippy, 62, killed a rabid bobcat with his bare hands when it attacked him on his porch in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The Vietnam vet was later treated for bites, scratches, and exposure to rabies. From Associated Press: Dale Rippy endured the (25 pound) bobcat's slashes and bites until it clawed into a position where he could grab it by the throat. Then he strangled it.

and from the Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer:

Swan allegedly attacks jet skiers at Goguac Lake
The Enquirer Michigan Department of Natural Resources is investigating reports of an aggressive male swan attacking jet skiers on the south side of Goguac Lake. Christine Hanaburgh, Michigan DNR wildlife biologist for Calhoun, Berry and Kalamazoo counties, said she's heard conflicting reports and is looking into the issue. "We're determining if the swan is a danger to humans," she said. Some lakeside residents are worried that the DNR will euthanize the male swan, who they believe is overly aggressive because his female partner has a broken beak. "That's a possible explanation, however, I would gravitate to another explanation," said John Lerg, acting supervisor for the state DNR Wildlife Division, southwest management unit. Swans often pair for life, or until one bird dies then the other finds a new mate. They also tend to nest in the same area year after year, he said. "Regardless of the condition of the female, it's not out of character to find the male, the cob, to be the more aggressive of the two," he said.

Who knew male swans were called cobs?