Marsh Frogs

   For years, the marshes were relatively quiet at night.  Occasionally, you might hear otters squeaking, raccoons squabbling or an alligator grunting but other than the usual night sounds of owls, crickets and cicadas, it was pretty much silent.  Now, that has all changed.  Once I designated the small pond as the "Frog Pond" and gave up hope of ever raising prettily colored fishes, it seems that the frogs got the idea in their heads that the whole place was theirs.  Frogs are everywhere.  Which I do not mind as they do help with keeping the place rid of some of the bugs.  Still, the nights have gotten a whole lot louder since thousands upon thousands of frogs are here.

  This morning before starting the chores for the day, I ventured to the pier.  As I softly padded down the planks, I could hear telltale signs that the marshes were alive!  It seemed that the froggies have lost fear of anything and pretty much do as they please.  With their voracious appetites, even the minnows are not safe.  This morning, a frog was literally zapping up the bull minnows.  

  The only downside to the billion or so frogs in the Bayou and marshes is that...where there are frogs, there is sure going to be snakes.  Hopefully, most of those snakes will be non-venomous and we will not be overrun by cottonmouths.  Water snakes, I do not mind.