Danger Lurks In The Shadows

   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.

Change of Occupancy

  Yesterday when the old dog and I were meandering about the hillside, we stopped by the little Frog Pond.  Dozens upon dozens of tiny green tree frogs were climbing up out of the water and onto the lily pads.  They were making that change from tadpole to frog and were such wee, little things!  Oh, how cute they were!!  Even the old dog, Mr. PJ had to stop and take a gander at the little squirts.  He seemed to be as amused as I was.  That was all too adorable but, then, we fast forward until today.  That cuteness has gone and has been replaced by another almost as interesting (albeit tragic in a sense) scenario.

  After painting a couple of dozen boards for window screens, I decided it was time to change up chores.  The hand needed a break from the paint brush.  I swapped to a pitchfork and started hauling away the wisteria vines that had been recently trimmed.  This job was right next to the Frog Pond.  While I was working, I often looked at the little frogs but, suddenly, a swift movement disturbed the water.  Oh, my!  A snake was after the frogs!  Sure enough, a slender, brown snake gulped down a tiny frog then darted to another lily pad where it gulped another.  It was time to stop work and watch nature at its best.

  A Common Ribbon Snake was making short work of the tiny frogs that dotted the lily pads.  Another local name for this snake is Swift Garter Snake (even though that is not a correct identity) and I could fully appreciate the swift part.  This snake was truly speedy!  It darted about so quickly that it was hard to keep track of where the snake was!  In and out of the lily pads, under the water hyacinths, through the elephant ears it went and all the while snatching frogs from their perches.  At last count, I found 3 frogs remaining.  While that fact did not make me happy, seeing the little snake did.  Nature never ceases to amaze me.