Home, Sweet Home...in the Mud

   The marsh around the Bayou is home to a myriad of critters.  You never know just what might be lurking among the reeds and in the mud so it is a wise thing not to go traipsing around in there.  Snapping turtles that can take off a finger in a single swipe, cottonmouths that sometimes can have a nasty temper and alligators who might just size you up as dinner are always a threat.  The other critters might latch on for a while but probably won't do near as much harm as the "Big Three".  Even the Bayou, itself, can be an entity to deal with if you are not careful.  One misstep can throw you in mud that can suck you in just as fast as quicksand.  That said, it is understandable that warnings are oft uttered..."Venture in and you mayn't come back out."

  I am fascinated by the critters in the marsh.  They are sometimes heard but rarely seen.  A lot of the birds are quite vocal but are shy.  Other critters just go about their daily (or nightly) routine without much fanfare.  Then, there are those that are pretty much stationary.  The mussels and clams take up a good bit of the space between the roots of the marsh grass.  Their presence helps to stabilize the entire area. Without these mollusks, the marsh roots would soon wash out and the area would erode.  

  It amazes me how the clams can literally bury themselves.  For something so seemingly motionless, these things can get around pretty well even while toting that heavy shell.  Clams bury themselves as protection from other critters.  Sometimes this works but the wily otters and nosy raccoons can sniff out the clams even under the mud.  

  Right next to the pier, a rather large clam has staked out its residence.  It has been there for nigh on a month.  Being as its shell is almost the size of my fist, it would make a tasty meal for any critter.  I keep watch thinking that any morning, I might find the empty shell but, as of yet, no predators have bothered it.  The clam seems to have chosen the right spot in the mud!