Puddle Pond sits at the end of Pebble Creek with both being nothing more than a drainage ditch with a circulating pump in the little pond. The water in the pond is only about 18 inches deep so it is easy to keep clean. Since mid summer, things have gotten a bit out of hand here with the water hyacinths growing to massive heights and thickness. This is good in some ways but not so very good in others. Good as it gives lots of places for the little froggies to hide from birds, coons and feral cats. Not so good as it hides a different predator.
This morning as I was wandering the Small Gardens, I happened upon a small ribbon snake as it was dining upon the little froglets. The snake was taking full advantage of the coverage of the water hyacinth leaves as it picked off one after another of the tiny green treefrogs. The pond is full of the frogs so it is only natural that the snake would be there. As much as I like my froggies, this was not something that needed interference. The snake was only trying to survive. The froggies were doing the same. They were trying to survive by climbing up high on the leaves in hopes that they could see the snake before it struck. This technique was working fine about giving them the advantage over the snake but, also, put them in jeopardy. Any other predator now had a full view of the frogs. I guess this was a matter of "you do what you gotta do".
In a way, it saddens me to see so many frogs perish but that is part of life. If the little snake wanted to live, it had to eat. Besides, there are thousands upon thousands of frogs in the two ponds and each night hears the froggy symphony of mating calls. More eggs will be laid, more tadpoles will hatch and more frogs will climb out of the pond. One little snake among thousands of frogs. Seems fair. Life goes on.
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