Is That A Good Idea??

  Camouflage is a good thing.  In the critter world, it is a necessity.  Either a critter will use camouflage to catch something to eat or hide from being eaten. Whichever the case may be, a good camouflage can save a life.  The bobcat's coloring can hide it while it lies in wait for prey to appear.  An ambush by the cat can take down even a much larger critter.  That element of surprise is heightened by its ability to sit perfectly motionless under a palmetto frond.  The spots on the bobcat closely resemble the sun dappled leaves that litter the ground.  It is hard to spy the cat due to that camouflage.  Then, there are those critters that use their camouflage to escape being eaten.   The Mottled Duck is one such animal.  This bird nests right in the midst of the marsh but finding a mama duck on the nest is nigh on impossible.  Her feathers are so like the marsh colors that unless you hear her, she blends really well.

  Camouflage can only go so far in protection, though.  A bit of common sense needs to be applied in there somewhere as well.  No matter how well that duck is hidden, if she quacks, her hiding spot is revealed.  The same with that bobcat.  Let that cat scratch an itch and supper will have to wait.

  Just yesterday, Son made the remark about camouflage gone awry.  A moth had plans to stay hidden on the fence post during the daytime hours.  It was well camouflaged because the browns of the moth's wings blended well with the wood of the fence post.  Perfect hiding spot...probably not.  The moth had decided to improve its hiding spot by crawling into a "crevice" only that crevice was not a safe place. The moth was between the fence post and the gate.  Had Son not seen the moth in time, he may have smashed it by closing the gate a bit to sharply.  Son, having a soft heart when it comes to critters, told me to "Be careful, there is a moth on the gatepost."  He knows me well.  The roles could have been reversed here.  I could have very easily been the one trying to save the moth.  

  The camouflage did not do too well in protecting the moth from potential harm but Son did, so all was well.  Nothing ate the moth nor was it smashed by the swinging gate.  It lived to flit around another night and, hopefully, escaped the bats!  Life's a struggle!