Can walkers swim???

[PandaRave]

Lily said that Kenny's idea to get into the boat is just a 'pipe' dream but I don't know if they can swim or not. :(

[thestalkinghead]

they may be able to float, but i don't think they have the mental capacity to swim, it is way more complex than shifting your weight forward and stopping yourself from falling over by putting your foot forward

[The_Cheshire_Cat]

they may be able to float, but i don't think they have the mental capacity to swim, it is way more complex than shifting your weight forward and stopping yourself from falling over by putting your foot forward

funny, when I have to admit to folks that I can't swim they always talk about how its natural to be able to swim. That the only reason people who never learned how to swim drown is because they panic.

Walkers don't seem like the panic type.You have to be aware of danger and your mortality to panic, things the walkers have no concern for.

[thestalkinghead]

funny, when I have to admit to folks that I can't swim they always talk about how its natural to be able to swim. That the only reason people who never learned how to swim drown is because they panic.

Walkers don't seem like the panic type.You have to be aware of danger and your mortality to panic, things the walkers have no concern for.

the only natural thing humans do when in water is hold there breath, but think about the way a zombie moves on land, could that ever translate into swimming, what style of swimming do we expect the zombies to do? breaststroke, backstroke, doggy paddle?

i don't think they could do anything other than just thrash about a bit

[Rock114]

They may not be able to actually swim, but they won't drown. They might be able to float or, like in World War Z, walk across the bottom of the ocean. The only place truly safe then, if that is possible in TWD, is the boat.

[Gratefully Dead]

They'd still have to run in to town for supplies and shit... so I'd say yes, it is a dream. Get some place you can actively protect. Plus, you don't think there's pirates out there? Argh.

[PandaRave]

They'd still have to run in to town for supplies and shit... so I'd say yes, it is a dream. Get some place you can actively protect. Plus, you don't think there's pirates out there? Argh.

Never thought of that :o
Clementine could take over the ship and be called captain clementine :D

[thestalkinghead]

They'd still have to run in to town for supplies and shit... so I'd say yes, it is a dream. Get some place you can actively protect. Plus, you don't think there's pirates out there? Argh.

is there anywhere that you can protect from thousands of zombies?
but i agree pirates would be a danger

[Rock114]

Well, they're living through an apocalypse. Living for now, that is. They tried the defensible position plan with the motor inn, and ran into a large group of bandits and a family of cannibals. I guess they think holding on to some place is hopeless now, so they'll go to the one place the walkers can't get them. Maybe they'll figure it out if they actually get to the boat.

[WowMutt]

Well, here's my point of view on this.

First, as their is no real such thing as zombies, any speculation is based on personal belief but you can look at it from a "what if" perspective.

What if zombies were real and how they are 'alive'.. The basic natural motor functions such as to feed, walking as we know is learned but becomes natural.

I dont think Zombies could swim as it's a learned skill and needs to be conciously thought of to do. I would say the best a zombie could do is float or perhaps walk on the bottom of the ocean/lake etc.

Makes ya wonder about feeding too.. we know is a natural function, but why do zombies need to feed on the living, they dont 'need' to eat to survive as they're already dead. they dont gain nourishment from it.. I think it's just to add to the horror of a fictional monster!

[thestalkinghead]

Well, here's my point of view on this.

First, as their is no real such thing as zombies, any speculation is based on personal belief but you can look at it from a "what if" perspective.

What if zombies were real and how they are 'alive'.. The basic natural motor functions such as to feed, walking as we know is learned but becomes natural.

I dont think Zombies could swim as it's a learned skill and needs to be conciously thought of to do. I would say the best a zombie could do is float or perhaps walk on the bottom of the ocean/lake etc.

Makes ya wonder about feeding too.. we know is a natural function, but why do zombies need to feed on the living, they dont 'need' to eat to survive as they're already dead. they dont gain nourishment from it.. I think it's just to add to the horror of a fictional monster!

like it was said in another thread, they act like a virus, so feeding is not feeding its spreading/replicating

[WowMutt]

like it was said in another thread, they act like a virus, so feeding is not feeding its spreading/replicating

then why not just a bite? why do they eat their victems?

[thestalkinghead]

then why not just a bite? why do they eat their victems?

to kill them quicker maybe, maybe its is the virus's way of taking over the brain and it uses the eat instinct to spread

[WowMutt]

to kill them quicker maybe, maybe its is the virus's way of taking over the brain and it uses the eat instinct to spread

I still just think it's a way to add to the horror of the creatures, making them more dangerouse and have a purpose.

If zombies just wandered the earth and were no threat, then so what. We could just shoot them and would be over. They have to have something like feeding to make them a real threat.

Of course we could say the same thing about Vampires.. They are already dead, so why drink blood? What do they get from it? Maybe is just to satisfy a hunger.. They wouldnt die of starvation, just constanty be starved if they had nothing to feed upon.

Again, just another way to add to the horror of a fictional monster.

Another thought.. I will not use the "R" word, but anyone could create a zombie or vampire story where it's not about feeding, but mating to spread the diseases. Just that would be much harder for movie makers to produce a movie where the monsters forcibly "mate" with the living to spread the virus.

[thestalkinghead]

I still just think it's a way to add to the horror of the creatures, making them more dangerouse and have a purpose.

If zombies just wandered the earth and were no threat, then so what. We could just shoot them and would be over. They have to have something like feeding to make them a real threat.

Of course we could say the same thing about Vampires.. They are already dead, so why drink blood? What do they get from it? Maybe is just to satisfy a hunger.. They wouldnt die of starvation, just constanty be starved if they had nothing to feed upon.

Again, just another way to add to the horror of a fictional monster.

Another thought.. I will not use the "R" word, but anyone could create a zombie or vampire story where it's not about feeding, but mating to spread the diseases. Just that would be much harder for movie makers to produce a movie where the monsters forcibly "mate" with the living to spread the virus.

well if you think of fictional monsters like that, everything about them it just to add to the horror, but that is sort of dismissing all fiction as just ways to make you feel a certain way.

but a "R" monster would be scary, a bit like alien in a way

[Bearcules]

the only natural thing humans do when in water is hold there breath, but think about the way a zombie moves on land, could that ever translate into swimming, what style of swimming do we expect the zombies to do? breaststroke, backstroke, doggy paddle?

i don't think they could do anything other than just thrash about a bit

All that decomposition might give them an advantage in staying afloat.

[nublar93]

Doubt it. Walkers are so dumb they will drown and their lungs and heads will fill with water.

[thestalkinghead]

All that decomposition might give them an advantage in staying afloat.

yeah, normal people blow up like a balloon if they decompose in the water, so zombies would at least get a bit of gas build up

[PandaRave]

Doubt it. Walkers are so dumb they will drown and their lungs and heads will fill with water.

I dont know about that but it would be funny to see there head explode though :D

[Cyreen]

They don't need to swim, they would bloat and float and the tides would carry them. They can certainly grab and drag themselves forward. The ones that aren't bloated can walk to any island.

[darknessofheart]

Cliffhanger ending for the season; "Oh my God, they can swim!"

In all seriousness though, nah, I hope not and don't believe they can, at least not to the point that they would actually pose a threat.

[thestalkinghead]

They don't need to swim, they would bloat and float and the tides would carry them. They can certainly grab and drag themselves forward. The ones that aren't bloated can walk to any island.

but they would be even less of a threat, night watch would still be necessary but the danger would be minimal

[Cyreen]

As pointed out in the game, zombies aren't the real threat. The question was whether they could swim.

[thestalkinghead]

As pointed out in the game, zombies aren't the real threat. The question was whether they could swim.

i wouldn't count floating as swimming

[Viner16]

Probably not, I mean, some HUMANS can't swim. (They learn, they learn.)

Chances are pretty low.

[Cyreen]

i wouldn't count floating as swimming

Right. Go back and read my original post because I really hate repeating myself.

[thestalkinghead]

They don't need to swim, they would bloat and float and the tides would carry them. They can certainly grab and drag themselves forward. The ones that aren't bloated can walk to any island.

Right. Go back and read my original post because I really hate repeating myself.

i was just being more specific, so the answer is no

[JCMcAdams84]

They couldn't stay underwater for too long, too much water in the brain (not to mention pressure at too deep) would destroy it. Also, being that they are decomposing, the water would pull them apart as they flesh got saturated and fish would eat them too.

[thestalkinghead]

i think they may have an aversion to water and avoid it out of instinct, else they may just eventually all kill/destroy themselves from the walking into the sea

[Cyreen]

i think they may have an aversion to water and avoid it out of instinct

Noooo.... that's rabies.

[thestalkinghead]

Noooo.... that's rabies.

i didn't know that, but if it is a symptom for rabies it may be a symptom for zombies

[YamiRaziel]

Even if they can't swim, that boat is just too big of a target. It's small, it can't hold large groups and everybody is going to want it. I've never considered that stupid boat a good plan. It's suicide and it might not even be there.

The biggest chance for survival are joining huge groups and societies such as Woodbury, Negan, Alexandria and so on.

[Cyreen]

I agree, a boat is a bad idea.

i didn't know that, but if it is a symptom for rabies it may be a symptom for zombies

Read WWZ.

[Noname215]

No, they can walk underwater without drowning, and since they’re walking dead, there’s no air to float them to the top.

[NessaT]

I don't think they can swim.

However, I don't think the boat will be too much of a hinderance for them. I'm sure they will get there somehow... by wading at the bottom of the river / sea or something?

Besides, they'll be trapped on the boat and their supplies of medicine and fresh water will eventually dwindle and run out. And how about gas for their boat?

It'll be suicide in there. At least on land, you can outrun them. No chance of that on water.

At least in my opinion.

[Cyreen]

No, they can walk underwater without drowning, and since they’re walking dead, there’s no air to float them to the top.

They'd do both.

Given time in the water and gases from decomposition, the zombies would bloat and float.

[NessaT]

Given time in the water and gases from decomposition, the zombies would bloat and float.

Reminds me of the floater in the well at Hershel's farm. *shudders*

[Goldrock]

i doubt they would even float they are corpses and corpses tend to sink after all the air has left the lungs so i really dont think so.

[thestalkinghead]

Read WWZ.

oh, so dos that have zombie facts in it ;)

[Cooperal]

They can barely animate a consistent walk. Even if salt water was enough to keep them afloat, I doubt they'd understand how to orientate themselves to drift in a specific direction. Let alone keep their mouth and nose out of the water. They may even ruin their brain enough before long, what with all the flooding.

Although whatever they spread through bites (lethal diseases at the very least), has probably spread into the water surrounding them. So unless you make sure to keep the boat at an easily safe distance, you're at a bit less of an advantage than you thought.

[gamefreak13]

No but yes they can sort of walk on the bottom in WWZ. They might have gasses from decomposition in them the first couple of days, which makes some of them float for a little while but it doesn't mean that they really swim.

[Cyreen]

oh, so dos that have zombie facts in it ;)

No, as zombies are not an actual fact themselves, but it does propose a credible hypothesis, rather than just making it up as you go along.

[WowMutt]

I agree, a boat is a bad idea.

I disagree.. I think for a temporary means of escape, a boat is the best Idea.

Let's just assume a couple thing's. You have a big enough boat for the group, you have enough fresh water and supplies for a couple weeks.. You have a chart and if a motor boat fuel, and/or a sail.

Point is, while on the boat, your perfectly safe from zombies.

On a clear day at sea, the average horizon is 17 miles.. How many people could actually make that swim? Would have to be great swimmers, concious minded to even attempt that. A zombie (as we assume them to be) could not make that swim or even float. The tides or currents would take them or if they sank could even see to find a boat on the surface, also providing the depth of the sea floor wasnt so deep as water pressure would implode them.

Could actually get a good nights sleep. Then hope you have a plan, where to go and the means to get there!

I realize a boat is not a long term solution unless you found some sort of large yahat but then fuel would be an issue.. There's so many senerios!

[Cyreen]

Point is, while on the boat, your perfectly safe from zombies.

It's not the zombies that worry me. There's no cover if you're attacked and no retreat. You think the bandits are bad on land, what do you think the pirates will be like?

[DreadMagus]

Without fuel, a boat might as well be a floating brick....

[Zhombre]

boats been sailing oceans for thousands of years.. without fuel. steal a sail boat.. theres plenty that run without onboard engines.

also most universal zombie canon states they CANNOT swim... see romeros movies (land of the dead specifically- they literally walk underneath a river to get to the last human city) , read the zombie survival guide, wwz etc- they walk underneath or decompose in the bodies of water they inhabit

also depending on what school of thought- the previous theory stated above about compulsion to feed is to spread the virus is correct, and the consumption is purely instinct left over. in WWZ and zombie survival guide they go over this, how they killed zombies that ate till their stomach exploded and kept eating. Its out of a supernatural compulsion not necessity that they eat.. its also an explanation to how they can still do basic functions such as walking and moving.

of course all of this is conjecture, its not like theres historical data to back it up. However in TWD universe it predominately follows romero's vision of the ZA as canon, so i wouldnt be seeing any swimming zombies anytime soon in the game. If running zombies are taboo, then swimmers would be rediculous

[Xirsche]

boats been sailing oceans for thousands of years.. without fuel. steal a sail boat.. theres plenty that run without onboard engines.

also most universal zombie canon states they CANNOT swim... see romeros movies (land of the dead specifically- they literally walk underneath a river to get to the last human city) , read the zombie survival guide, wwz etc- they walk underneath or decompose in the bodies of water they inhabit

also depending on what school of thought- the previous theory stated above about compulsion to feed is to spread the virus is correct, and the consumption is purely instinct left over. in WWZ and zombie survival guide they go over this, how they killed zombies that ate till their stomach exploded and kept eating. Its out of a supernatural compulsion not necessity that they eat.. its also an explanation to how they can still do basic functions such as walking and moving.

of course all of this is conjecture, its not like theres historical data to back it up. However in TWD universe it predominately follows romero's vision of the ZA as canon, so i wouldnt be seeing any swimming zombies anytime soon in the game. If running zombies are taboo, then swimmers would be rediculous

That would be a hilarious yet..scary thought. Imagine freakin' zombies in Olympian swimsuits swimming like torpedos towards a boat. O.o

[WowMutt]

It's not the zombies that worry me. There's no cover if you're attacked and no retreat. You think the bandits are bad on land, what do you think the pirates will be like?

Ok, point taken, but consider the number of bandit's on land compared to the number of pirates at sea.. which is the greater threat? And on land you MUST consider the zombies too!

[Xarne]

Kirkman never covers this topic but like others have said, other books have covered this.
They just continue walking on the bottom of the river / ocean until they hit shore again.
The nastier ones will float but none of them go into the actual activity of swimming

[Juicius Maximus]

Seems as good a place as any to leave this (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=zombie%20vs%20shark&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDEQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuOS N2s8FY8Q&ei=PANRUOfcA4eCiwLz5oHwDg&usg=AFQjCNFrmS9iE-iJ84t4rrEPaJCX44253g&sig2=DPyGibIMq9sWEqpR0RQ6JA).

[Xarne]

Seems a good a place as any to leave this (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=zombie%20vs%20shark&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDEQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuOS N2s8FY8Q&ei=PANRUOfcA4eCiwLz5oHwDg&usg=AFQjCNFrmS9iE-iJ84t4rrEPaJCX44253g&sig2=DPyGibIMq9sWEqpR0RQ6JA).

lol awesome (and scary)

[DreadMagus]

boats been sailing oceans for thousands of years.. without fuel. steal a sail boat.. theres plenty that run without onboard engines.



That wasn't the point I was trying to make though.

Of course they could find (steal? really?) a sail boat.... assuming someone else hasn't taken them all or they've been destroyed in the past 3 months of the slightly ongoing zombie apocalypse the survivors have found themselves in.

Personally, I think the chances of finding an intact sailboat are remote at this point.

But, you never know.

[Cyreen]

Ok, point taken, but consider the number of bandit's on land compared to the number of pirates at sea.. which is the greater threat? And on land you MUST consider the zombies too!

As people become more desperate, who wouldn't be a pirate? I think I'd keep a bunch of zombie heads to use as cannon balls, wouldn't want to damage a potentially useful boat.

[Hudomonkey]

A boat would be pretty safe but it makes it even more difficult to get food, clean water and supplies

You would be safe until it is your turn to gather supplies

[Web Head]

Walkers can't even walk properly and you say they can swim? They will simply sink and die lol

[Maximus123458]

If walkers could swim, they should have been called "Swimmers" =3 *rimshot*