Saving the Polyphemus!

   Son often tells me that I interfere with nature too much.  According to him, each time I rescue a critter, I am depriving another.  Perhaps.  Maybe I am being a bit too pushy when I rescue skink eggs from tropical storm waters or save a frog from dehydration after being stuck in a bottle.  Maybe not.  I feel that every creature has a right to live and if I can help, then I should.

  He shook his head at me again yesterday and gave a long sigh.  I had "saved" yet another critter from certain death.  While out on my morning hike about the place, I noticed a cocoon on the ground.  The night before, we had a storm with copious rainfall and some pretty stiff winds.  Obviously, the cocoon fell during the storm.  At first glance, I thought the cocoon might be empty and perhaps the moth had emerged before the bad weather.  Picking up the cocoon, it was evident that the moth was still inside as there was no exit hole.  Hmmm?  Could it still be alive?  It definitely would not last long on the ground where any number of critters would be searching for an easy meal.  So...I held onto the cocoon for the duration of my walk.  

  About ten minutes later, an odd thing happened.  The cocoon started shaking!  Yay!  My moth friend was still alive!  Umm...now what do I do?  I pondered where to put my new friend.  The greenhouse!  Yes!  The cocoon could be propped among the plants and the moth would be safe!  I scurried in to put the thing in its new home....uhhh...maybe not.  As soon as I sat the cocoon down, I noticed frogs!  Frogs were everywhere!....and lizards!  Everywhere!  That's what I get for rescuing them and putting them in the greenhouse for the winter.  Nooo! They would surely eat the moth as soon as it emerged. Time to rethink this situation!

  So, a thin wire slipped into the broken cocoon hanger became the exact thing needed to save my friend!  Since these cocoons are usually found in either oak or hickory trees, I walked back to where I found it on the trail and wired it to a low hanging oak limb.  Whew!  Now do your thing, Moth Friend! 

  The moth that will emerge soon is a polyphemus moth.  This moth is a giant!  Its wingspread can be up to six inches!  Hopefully, a photograph of a lovely specimen will soon be had but, for now, there is only a brown, leathery cocoon. Yes, Son did ask if I checked the cocoon after the bad weather of today. (He does care!)  Nope, it still has not emerged.