Pond Life

About a half mile from my home there is a pond created by a beaver family.  Whether this is good or bad depends on who or what is making the decision.  Obviously the beaver must think it is good, or they wouldn't maintain the pond.  Nearly as obvious is the aversion the farm owner, upon who's land the pond occupies, has to the beaver and the pond.  I tend to make no decisions as to worth or value of this pond, I merely observe.

As well as the beaver that this pond provides their choice of home for, there are a number of other forms of wildlife that use it, rent-free.  The beaver do all of the work and the other dwellers equally enjoy the result.  So much for fairness in the animal world.

The above photo depicts one of several muskrat family members that also live in the pond.  This is an adult taking food to his family.  You can note the green shoots of grass or reeds in his mouth as it propels itself homeward mainly with the use of its tail to a den in the pond bank where a litter of young awaits its return.

As well as these mammals there is also a family of ducks of some sort.  I've only spotted them from a distance so am unaware yet as to their species.  In addition to those is a pair of canadian geese that are contemplating a hatching any day now.  Common frogs, bullfrogs, turtles, several songbird families abound, as well as the occasional visit from a raccoon, skunk, porcupine, or other small animal all occur.  Often in the evening whitetail deer come to drink.

Where other humans seldom intrude I find solitude and take comfort in watching our animal friends in their natural habitat.