Mr. Sparkles

   I always say that you never know what you will find in the Little Bayou House.  It is filled with oddities that have come to call the place home by pure happenstance most of the time.  Then, there are the living things that somehow find their way in for a visit.  Critters that live around the Bayou are not overly picky about their living quarters so any nook or cranny will suffice.  This does not usually cause too much concern as I simply put the critters back outside where they belong with a stern warning not to return.  We have had birds, raccoons, possums, squirrels, snakes, frogs, lizards and every possible (or so I thought) insect creepy-crawling or slithering about the house at some point.  Hmmm...we even had a baby otter visit but that was not by his choice.  Back when the kids were growing up, they found critters, brought them home and called them pets.  These wild "pets" were allowed a short stay before they were returned to where they were found.  I assumed this was a learning experience since my siblings and I did the same.  I guess a house is a home to a lot more than just the human family that resides there.

  This morning, I was sweeping the dust bunnies out of the living room when I noticed a "sparkly" on the floor.  Assuming this was some random bead left over from my granddaughter's stay a few weeks ago, I reached down and picked up said sparkly.  Hmmm...beads do not wiggle.  Yep, it was a bug.  Another critter had found its way inside the house.  "Sparkles" (its name now) was unlike any critter that I had seen before.  It literally seemed like it was covered with glitter. Most of the time, it gleamed bright green but occasionally certain spots seemed gold.  Time for a few photographs before "Sparkles" headed back outside. 

  After a little research, I have about decided this is none other than a Metallic Woodboring Beetle.  There are numerous types but, thankfully, this is not a "bad" beetle.  Yes, it does gnaw on wood but only on dead or dying trees (which there are many here due to termites.  Yep, termites have infested the live trees.)  Anyway, what I found most interesting about Sparkles is that it is really not all those colors.  Its exoskeleton has divots on the surface and those only reflect certain colors.  Mr. Sparkles obviously loves green!...and maybe gold!  Actually, the whole critter is iridescent but the little divots reflect the most light...sort of like an inverse disco ball!  

  The beetle was so pretty that I had to carry it all the way down to the canebrake where Son was pulling out the dead canes.  While showing him our glittery friend, he suggested that it may have come in with an armload of firewood.  Ahh, probably right!  My first thought was to return Mr. Sparkles to the outdoor wood rack but then I had the horrible thought that he may not make it through the next cold spell.  It was pure luck that he crawled out of the firewood in time with his first adventure indoors.  He may not be so lucky next time!  So...I made the decision to let the critter loose on the old oak stump.  There, he could find lots of old wood to munch and some pretty snug places to overwinter if the weather turns cold.  Now...I can mark Metallic Woodboring Beetle off the list of Little Bayou House guests!  Like I said, you never know just what you might find here.

 

Lurking on the dark path

   When your hike takes you along some dark paths at daybreak, everything seems to loom larger, stay darker and appear to be downright scary at times.  The same path during the bright daylight hours is totally different.  This morning, my hike down by the wild persimmon trees was only lit by the ambient light of the morning sunrise and that was dimming quickly due to thick, dark clouds.  Not one to be afraid of the dark, I pressed forward choosing my steps carefully.  Back here, there are still some places that hold Hurricane Zeta debris from several years ago.  I figured there was no need to let some random, rusty nail pierce my soft moccasins and, thus, my foot.  So, I stepped lightly while also keeping a sharp eye for any impending "danger" that may lurk in the shadows.  Coyotes and bobcats are known to roam freely here during the night.

  Just as I made a bend in the path, I paused.  The bare treetops were clearly outlined against the clouded sky.  A huge "blob" was huddled in the top of one of the persimmon trees.  Coon?  My first thought was a raccoon had sought the tree as a place to settle in for a nap.  Something seemed off, however.  I stood quietly in the shadows waiting...waiting for movement that would identify my critter before I moved onward.  The figure shifted positions.  Still...not identifiable but, at least, not threatening.

  A few more minutes led to a fit of giggles!  My mystery critter was Bat!  My goofy cat had scooted down the path before me and climbed the tree.  When I rounded the corner, all I could see was a dark outline of a critter.  Like I said earlier...things seem to loom a lot larger than in real life. Bat is a huge cat but he sure seemed to be a lot fatter while huddled up in the tree.  My silly, sweet cat was now winding around my legs wondering why was laughing.  Oh, Bat!  You are something else!

Molting Assassin Bug

   It seems that I post a good bit about the insects around here.  We have plenty.  Some wreak havoc.  Termites and eastern lubber grasshoppers are both on my "bad" list.  I am not a fan of either.  Also on that list are yellow jackets but I have not come in contact with any of those yet this year...yet.  I hope I do not.  They have nasty tempers!   We do, however, have some "good" insects and I have found myself fully appreciating those.  Just a couple of days ago, I found that assassin bug creepy-crawling on the turmeric leaves.  I was elated to see more of them today.  A lot of folks think I am nuts loving these bugs since they can give a painful bite.  The assassin bug has one large fang that it is not afraid to use when it feels it is in danger.  That piercing fang hurts!  Still, I am always excited to find the critters and never dream of killing them.

  Today, one assassin nymph was in the process of molting.  I found it on the fox grape vines.  Later, I found one living up to its name.  Back in the herb garden, one had caught a fly and was sucking the life from it.  Let's return to that one molting, though.  I always find it fascinating to watch how insects can actually climb out of their exoskeleton and become a larger critter.  I suppose not many folks take the time to view this but it is quite the undertaking for the critter and puts it in danger.  While molting, an insect is rather soft and vulnerable to any larger predators.  It has absolutely no defense at this stage and cannot even make a run for it.  The critter is literally "stuck" there until it manages to wiggle free and then "harden".  

  Most likely, others would purely see the critters as "just another pest" and try to eradicate them.  Not me!  I figure to let these predators live and flourish in the gardens.  They are free pest control and eat a lot of insects that would love to dine upon my cabbages!

27.000 Teeth!

   I am finally free to hike as I wish other than back too far in the creek.  That is still off limits but only due to the sogginess of the ground. The nightly rains have dumped enough water to fill the creek and let it spill over into the woods.  Not wanting to become mired, I stick to higher ground and nose around in just about any nook and cranny I can find.  This afternoon, I flipped over a rotted log and found...nothing...except a slug.  A lone leopard slug was happily munching on some mold that was growing on dead leaves.  I watched the critter for a while and then lightly replaced the log.  There was no sense in bothering the poor little guy.

  Now for a fun fact!  Slugs very rarely (if ever) bite!  They just sort of slime along when threatened.  That slime is enough to deter most predators so they pretty much live in peace.  But!  Did you know that slugs have teeth?  They do!  In fact, a common slug has about 27,000 teeth!  The teeth are lined up in a fashion that makes them look and act a lot more like a cheese grater than fangs.  To be able to digest the whole assortment (of everything) that it eats, the slug has to have some way of helping it decompose.  Chewing is not a strong point of a slug so it sort of "grates" its food through a series of rows of teeth.  

  Having that many teeth could, indeed, make a slug a ferocious predator.  While there are some that will eat insects, worms and even other slugs, most are content to munch a few leaves, some fungi or your lovely lilies.  We had better be glad that they are just slimy critters that would rather hide than attack.  Just imagine how scary it would be to have car sized slugs with 27,000 teeth!

Just A Friendly Spider!

   Oh, the things we find!  Son has been doing a huge cleanup of the yard this past week.  With most of the termite-damage reconstruction of the Little Bayou House completed, it was time to regain the yard.  This has gone on for too long.  I had started the cleanup and relandscaping back before falling ill but that all came to a standstill during my recuperation period.  When he finished rebuilding the pier, Son took over the cleanup.  He has done most of the "heavy" work but has no clue how I want to "pretty" up the place.  His idea of the perfect yard would have no gardens, no ponds, no fences and definitely no decorations of any kind.  A clean, clear lawn would suit him fine.  Me?  I need the mystery that outdoor "rooms" create.  Winding pathways, dark, shady nooks, babbling water features (snakes and frogs included) and funky gates.  All of those things are up to me.  He does, however, call me whenever he finds some odd critter during his work.  Today, a spider put a halt to the chores.

  Son called me as he was clearing a pile of lumber.  "Hey, there is a bug."  I knew to grab the camera because it had to be something out of the ordinary if he brought attention to it.  Sure enough, it was an odd looking critter.  When I told him it was a Long-jawed Spider, he shrugged and muttered something about it had long legs not a long jaw.  Well, he had a point but the spider's name would have to stay.

  Long-jawed Spiders are pretty neat critters.  They have figured out that nighttime provides for the best hunting and so they while away the daytime hours in hiding (like this one).  In the evening, the spider will crawl out of its nook and spin a large web usually over water.  They depend on the morphing of water bound larvae to adults as a food source.  Mosquitoes, mayflies and midges all lay eggs in water. When the larvae develop into adults and leave the water, they become ensnared in the spider's web.  Spider is happy....I am happy....a lot less bugs.  

  Since Son wanted to complete his chore, I gently moved our friendly spider to a spot closer to the little Puddle Pond.  She can have lots of hiding places and will be able to catch any flying critters tonight.  Happy hunting, Long-jawed Spider!  You are welcome to stay here!

Critter Of Many Names!

  Today was obviously Bug Day and I had no idea.  Son was outside doing a bit of cleanup after some construction work and I was inside baking him some cookies. I figured one good turn deserves another and I have yet to see a young man turn down a plate of cookies!  Just as I was about to pop another tray into the oven, I sensed he was at the backdoor.  Ok, so what was up with that.  Sure enough, I checked and he was standing there.  "Umm, I am too dirty to come inside but I wanted to show you something." he stated.  I knew this had to be good!  Son does not get excited over critters but he knows I do.  I put down the cookie sheet (unbaked) and grabbed the camera.  Something was up!

  Sure enough, he had found a four inch long Spit Tobacco! Or, in fact, two of the critters. (It is mating season for these insects.)  This is not the true name and is only one of many given to this critter.  Spit Tobaccos, Devil's Horse, Prairie Alligator, Witch's Horse, Devil's Darning Needle and Musk Mare are all names given to the Two Striped Walking Stick.  As you can tell by the common names, most folks do not think too kindly of this critter and rightly so.  When agitated, this walking stick has a weird defense.  It has glands that create some pretty foul gunk and it can actually spit it at a predator.  The "spray" is actually toxic and if the critter can aim and hit the eyes of its predator, the stuff can actually temporarily blind it not to mention how painful it is.  I have heard tell that the walking sticks have remarkable aim so be careful if you find one!

  Pop was the one who taught me about "Spit Tobaccos".  As a kid, I was curious about all critters (still am) and wanted to hold everything.  Pop was pretty good about letting me explore but when I was in danger, he would let me know.  "Best steer clear of that one.  It will spit tobacco juice in your eyes and it will really hurt."  For the longest time, I truly thought that the critter chewed tobacco and would spit at me.  Well, I was partly right.  They do spit..just not tobacco juice.  Funny thing, any sort of tobacco product disgusts me to this day.  Ain't no critter gonna spit at me!

Discovery Time!

  It was once said that there is "Nothing new under the sun."  Well, that may be so, in general, but it is far from true when it comes to me. There are so many things out there that are new to me!  I try to learn something new every day.  Son keeps after me to "use the brain" as he says it will become stale and those brain cells die.  Making new brain cells involves learning so I jump at the chance to learn anything I can.  Today, I researched a "new" ant.  By new, I mean new to me.  Granted, I have seen these critters about the Bayou at times but I never thought much about them, other than the fact that they were weird looking.  This ant does not look like the fire ants that build huge mounds nor the crazy ants that make small, but numerous, mounds.  This thing looked a lot more like a wasp that forgot to put on its wings.

  The ant in question is a slender twig ant.  It lives in pre-hollowed tunnels in trees, shrubs or reeds.  The entire colony can be inside a tree and no one would ever know as they really do not do damage that causes the tree to die.  The ants do, however, have a very, very painful bite! (Yes.  I found out the hard way.)  While fire ants can itch dreadfully, this is more akin to a bee sting.  It is just painful.  THEN, it itches. This ant feeds on live prey, fungi or tends aphids for honeydew.  

  While the ant seems like it would be a threat due to its intense bite, there is really no need to go on a search for them.  They are rarely encountered since they live inside trees and won't bite unless you threaten them.  My bite occurred because I wanted to see the underside of the ant.  (Not smart!)  I still do not begrudge the little guy for defending himself as I would have done the same.  So, slender twig ant went on his merry way after giving me a good nip!

Poor Decision

  After a long night of sitting up with an ailing dog, I had to escape for a few moments.  Since he was resting easy, I slipped out the front door to catch the sunrise.  Sometimes, a few moments can mean all the difference in the start of a new day.  While there, I noticed a tiny ripple in the water near the pier.  This ripple was different than those made by the little mullet running along the shore.  I strained my eyes to see what was making the small waves.  To my surprise, I found that it was a grasshopper floating on top of the water.  With no wind to push the critter along, I pondered how it had gotten so far from shore and how it had not been snatched up by a fish.

  Figuring that the grasshopper had been resting in the marsh and washed from its perch by the torrential rainstorm last night, I knew it had to be exhausted.  Knowing how I am, I probably would have tried to help the garden-eating pest had there been anything handy to extend down to the water's surface.   There was nothing on the pier that would suffice as a lift for the critter, however.  I watched as the grasshopper kicked its feet.  That motion sent it propelling across the water placing it within inches of the pier post.  "Grab ahold to the post!!"  Nope, the critter pushed again but in the opposite direction.  The grasshopper was kicking toward shore but it was moving away from its only hope.  

  The push to go to shore put the grasshopper right in line of a red drum that was chasing the school of little mullet.  Redfish are not choosy.  A grasshopper fills the belly just as good as a tiny fish and when it is helplessly floating atop the water, it is a lot easier to catch.  The poor decision making of the grasshopper caused its death.  A grasshopper became breakfast, a redfish filled its belly and I eased my way back up the hillside to check on old Mr. PJ, the old dog.  

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Mysteries Abound!

  Meandering about the hillside, you just never know what you may find.  What was not there yesterday can easily pop up today.  That is what makes hiking interesting.  The small oddities that seemingly appear out of thin air get you to asking how?  And why?  And where?  Some of the finds are pretty but others are creepy.  Then, there are those that are downright confusing.

  The hike this afternoon led me down behind the greenhouse where there is a large black gum tree that has seen better days.  The tree has been battered by many hurricanes and has the battle scars to prove it.  Some of those scars left gaping holes.  Many critters take advantage of the holes to provide housing for their little ones.  Nests are built inside the holes and are usually lined with leaves and soft grasses.  Today, however, it was in one of those holes, way up in the top of the tree, that my bewildering find was made.  

  About thirty feet up the tree, there is a hole that obviously houses a critter of some sort.  I could see that the hole has been recently occupied because a tumble of contents was extending beyond the opening.  It was one of those "contents" that left me scratching my head.  Slightly protruding from the "door" of the nest was a plastic water bottle.  How in the world did the critter get that bottle up in the tree?  Why in the world would it want a plastic bottle in its nest?  And...what type critter would even consider the idea of toting it all the way up there?  It was baffling,  to say the least, but there it was.

  I have yet to figure out this latest "Mystery of the Bayou" but I am intrigued enough to keep watch on the hole.  Perhaps one day, I will spy the critter and, at least, answer the "who" question.  Some critter has a lot of determination, that is for sure!

A Thousand Little Feet!

  Make hay while the sun shines!  Pop always used to tell us that when we were growing up on the farm.  While it did not always have to do with cutting hay, he kept after us to be productive.  There was always plenty to do on the farm but, also, plenty of time to enjoy ourselves.  We did not have all of the modern "time-saving conveniences" of today to take up our time.  It is funny how time-consuming "time-savers" really are.  Here on the Bayou, it is much the same except we are a little more "up-to-date"...not much, but some.  However, we still try to be productive when the weather permits.  This morning was cool and sunny so yard work was the plan.

  While loading a pile of wet leaves into the wheelbarrow, I noticed a quite lovely millipede.  The critter had tightly swirled itself into a spiral because it felt that I was a threat.  The critter had no idea how interesting it was!  I had to examine it!  After a few photographs, I put the millipede into the wheelbarrow with its rotted leaves to be hauled down to the compost.  There it could live in complete happiness.  I guess I am one of the few people who see critters like this for what they are.  Millipedes do not bite nor sting.  They are good in the sense that they eat rotted wood, decaying leaves and fungi.  Yes, occasionally, they will munch a plant but that is usually only when there is a dry spell.  Millipedes need dark, wet places so when they chew on fresh plants, it is more than likely an attempt to get water.

  Have you ever wondered if a millipede actually has the thousand legs its name proclaims?  Well, they do not.  When born most only have three pairs of legs and six body segments.  With each molting, more body segments and legs are added.  The largest amount ever recorded was seven hundred and fifty legs!  My goodness!  That is a lot of legs!  I stumble about on two!  How on earth does it keep all those legs from getting tangled??  

  The millipede, today, is just one of many that are around the Bayou.  I have never minded them but hear-tell that there are folks who call exterminators just to get rid of these critters.  Some claim that boric acid, diatomaceous earth or wood ash will deter the critters in the garden or home.  Since millipedes like moist areas, it makes sense to just keep things dry and clear of decaying plant matter but, if you are like me, they can just stay.  I will share the space with them...no problems.

Tiny Critter, Little House

  In my limited area walks, I have to find flora and fauna in a confined area.  Plants are relatively easy as they grow anywhere they can take root.  Unusual plants are a different story, however.  I see few of them in the yard.   Of course, I rarely see things like coyotes or bobcats in the garden or deer next to the steps but it would be nice to see something....anything!  So I have to search...hard.

  This afternoon, Mr. PJ decided to take a rest about 30ft from the doorstep.  He had no energy to go up that mountain of steps even though I lift him.  The task was daunting and he needed to contemplate the deed.  So...I meandered in the garden a bit.  It was there that I found my critter!  In one of the empty pots, some beady eyes peered out at me from a curled oak leaf.  Aha!  Some tiny critter was spying on me and was hoping that I would not bother it!  

  After carefully examining the leaf and then photographing it, I found my critter to be none other than a tiny jumping spider.  The critter had found its "house" to be quite comfy in this wet weather.  The rolled leaf was positioned so rain would not enter and was deep enough in the black, plastic pot that it was protected from the wind.  The tiny spider even had a back door for a hasty escape if necessary.   After taking a few photos, I left the spider undisturbed and I took the tired dog inside.

Ok, so they bite

  It seems that I always have to find out things the hard way.  Never once has anything stayed in the head without a physical reminder to go along with it.  Sometimes it takes more than once!  Take this morning, for instance.  I have dealt with critters all of my life.  Growing up on a farm, you are exposed to just about every critter alive both domesticated and wild.  No problem except for the fact that critters defend themselves (and some are just downright mean.)  Growing up, I was bitten by all sorts of critters and lived to tell the tale. I have had rat snake bites, black widow spider bites, bat bites, otter bites (yes, an otter did bite me), cat bites, dog bites, bird bites and any number of insect stings and bites.  I came through them all fine.   (Note here, the otter and one cat died shortly after biting me so I garnered the reputation of being poisonous!  Biters beware!) \

  Years ago, I was bitten by a rather large centipede.  I remember it was quite painful.  That rascal came in on some firewood and decided to go for the juggler vein!  I received a nasty bite to the neck and it left me in pain for hours!  Yep, it seems I would learn.  Nope, I had forgotten all about that pesky centipede and its ability to render intense pain.  This morning, it all came flashing back like some big, bright boomerang!  Smack!  Duh!  Ouch!

  As I was preparing to do a load of laundry, a squiggly centipede caught my eye.  It had wiggled its way under the back door to reside inside.  Nope, not happening, Centipede!  Not being one to kill things needlessly (except roaches!  I hate roaches!  And termites...yeah, termites are bad.  And Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers...eww! Sorry for getting off track.), I slipped my hand down and under the critter.  I was going to gently pick him up, cradle him softly until I got outside then release him in the woodpile.  Sorry!  That sucker is now squished!  He died but not before he bit me!  Geez!  The thumb swelled to twice its normally chubby size and throbbed for over an hour!

  Perhaps now that I have been viciously reminded of the biting power of centipedes, I will think twice about being so kind to them.  No more being the nice, old lady that gently removes the critters from the house.  They will die by the very hand that once was extended in kindness!  

How Did You Get In Here?

  Earlier today, it was time for me to start a new project.  The redoing of the living room was dragging on and eventually came to a screeching halt.  There are a few things left to do before the makeover is complete but those things cannot be completed just yet so there is nothing for me to do except start something new.  I figure since I am redoing one room, the others should follow.  So, the entryway is the next place to receive a bit of much needed attention.  Of course, the first thing to do would be empty out the space.  It seems that this small room is the catchall for whatever is in our hands as we enter the house.  Stuff is dropped there with the good intentions of putting it up properly "in a few minutes".  The trouble is...those few minutes drag on until we plumb forget about our misplaced items....so they stay until the room is quite cluttered.  Time to purge!

  As soon as the chore was begun, I had a visitor.  Thankfully, this was not a human visitor as that would mean that my tasks would be put on hold but rather this was a critter guest and an unwelcome one at that.  A large Eastern Lubber Grasshopper had somehow found his way into the Little Bayou House and had taken up residence in the entryway.  When I discovered him, he was perched proudly upon the window frame overlooking the few potted plants on the ledge.  He even had the nerve to poop on that window frame!!!  Ok, rascal!  You are out of here!  My purge of stuff from the room included the critter!

  These grasshoppers are the bane of the garden.  They can munch an entire garden to the bare ground in a few days.  Spring sees thousands upon thousands of the eggs hatching and fall ushers in the mating season of any adults that escape my attempts to eradicate the bunch.  I try my best to clear the yard of the critters only to find them now moving into the Little Bayou House!  Help!  Go away, grasshopper!

The Bayou Serpent!

   There are a lot of weird critters that live in the marsh and waters of the Bayou.  While crabs, shorebirds and fish are all easily recognized, some of the other critters throw me for a loop.  I have several "experts" to turn to in these instances, so all is well.  Still, when I am on the pier at the crack of dawn with no other human in sight and a weird critter pokes its head out of the water to take a look at me, it can get downright creepy!  

  This happened the other morning.  Mr. PJ (the old dog) had opted to stay inside so I went alone.  Without his noise-making, the wild critters continued their hunt for breakfast.  The snapping turtle eyed me cautiously, the otter mom barked furiously at me and the heron came on to breakfast.  It was a good morning for critter-watching!  However...

  As I was preparing to throw the net to catch bait, a dark "head" bobbled from beneath the water.  With the sun not yet bright enough to shed light on my unknown "critter", I thought it best to wait on that net casting.  The critter that was eyeing me with two beady knobs atop its head may not appreciate being caught.  I figured the best thing to do would be wait and watch.  The "critter" submerged again and the surfaced nearer the pier.  Now that the sun was brighter and the unknown thing was closer, I had to giggle.  My critter was not a critter at all!  It was a snail encrusted chunk of a palm tree!  As the waves bobbled the wannabe sea serpent on under the pier, I could make out that it was two knots on the wood that appeared to be eyes peering at me through the darkness!  Goodness!  My imagination does run wild sometimes!

  Oh, the things I find on this Bayou!  While it may have been exciting to find a new critter, I am rather glad that this was not one!  Or, at least, let me find something weird only when someone else is on the pier with me.  No one would ever believe me, otherwise!

Run, Run, Hither and Thither

  It is that time of year again when the bugs seem to take over the place.  If they are not smacking you in the head, they are climbing up your leg.  Living on the Bayou, it is a never-ending battle just to keep ahead of the invasions. Last summer, there seemed to be an enormous amount of velvet ants and this summer is starting out much the same.  The velvet ants are better known in the Deep South as cow-killer ants.  Both are misnomers as...first of all, they do not kill cows and secondly, they are not even ants. These critters are actually wasps. The females are, however, fuzzy which makes them soft and velvety looking...just don't try to pet one as then you may fully believe that cow-killer name. These things can pack a wallop of a sting.

  This afternoon saw me out photographing a velvet ant female.  The ones that run hither and thither about the yard and are bright red and black are females.  Most folks do not recognize the males so they sort of lump the sexes together thinking they look alike.  Nope, the male looks like a wasp.  The female's erratic running serves a purpose other than making her a hard photography target.  She is hunting for other ground wasp nests.  The female is a fearless predator who is on a mission.  She lays her eggs in the nests of other ground wasps.  When her egg hatches, it not only feeds upon the paralyzed insect that the original nest builder placed there as food for its little ones, it feeds on the host wasp larva.  There is no pride when it comes to a velvet ant larva. They eat just about anything.  

  Back to that purported cow-killing sting.  No, it does not kill you but it allegedly hurts like crazy.  I cannot attest to this as I have never been stung by one.  Growing up on the farm, my siblings and I used to catch the females and, later when I had kids, I let them catch the insects.  None of us were ever on the receiving end of any vicious stings.  Obviously, the critters did not wish to expend the energy as they were more interested in escaping our hands.  The beauties had more important things to attend. 

  I do think these critters are some of the prettier insects that are plaguing the place.  I just hope the old dog does not accidentally step on one so I carefully shooed this one back into the garden where the old dog rarely goes.  There she can be free to live as she wishes.

The Long Swim

  Every now and again some mundane incident can jog a memory of something pretty amazing.  A couple of days ago, Mark and I watched as a critter swam across from a small inlet to the pier.  Since the animal was far away from us, it was hard to identify judging by sight only.  It did not take long before I knew it was a nutria rat simply by the way it swam.  There was no up and down loping motion like that of an otter.  Still, it was not until the critter was near us that we could fully see its face.  Yep, a nutria rat was out for its morning swim.  

  As the "unidentified swimming critter" came toward us, a memory of a similar incident from years ago came flooding back into the brain.  I was on the pier early one morn when I saw what appeared to be something swimming across the Bay!  That was a far piece for any critter so I figured that it must be either an otter or a nutria rat.  Both of those could swim for miles but this animal did not swim like either.  It was struggling to keep its head above water.  At first, I could barely make out that this was indeed an animal.  After a good fifteen minutes of being in the water, the animal was finally getting near enough that I could see that it was neither an otter nor a nutria rat.  This was a little dog!  The pup had swam all the way across the Bay which included a shipping channel.  The poor animal had to be exhausted.

  Once the pup was near our pier, it tried to cling to the posts but the barnacles scraped its paws and the waves tossed the pup against the hard posts.  I grabbed the fish scoop net and made a mad dash to help the pup.  Once I was able to get  the little one to shore, I realized that this tiny thing was a poodle!  A little black poodle had swum all that way without rest!  Of course, the pup was scared, cold and starving.  I tried to help it but it cowered in the marsh. After a bit, the little one ate but then scampered off down the lane and I never saw it again.  

  It bothered me to know that somehow that pup wound up in the water and was not helped.  At the time, I had a strong suspicion that the pup's owner had decided to "eliminate" the pet by throwing it into the water.  The fact that the little poodle swam all the way across the Bay led me to believe that the poor animal was abused and terrified to start.  It broke my heart to know that the dog did not even feel that it could trust me...its rescuer.  

  The nutria rat, on the other hand, did not need rescuing.  These critters are expert swimmers and the adults have few predators except for the alligators.  It is not uncommon to see them far out from the shore.  The one that Mark and I watched, soon made its way into the marsh.  I have a feeling that this was some rogue male coming to visit the little mama that lives far back in the Bayou.  I guess we will be seeing some nutria pups in a few months.  Oh, geez....more of the critters!

Those Tongue-eaters are Back!!! Ouch!

  They are back.  Maybe they never left but it seems that late fall is when their appearance becomes known to me.  More oft than not, it is this time of year when I encounter and invariably get bitten by the critters.  I am talking about the Cymothoa exigua which is a long name for a tiny crustacean.  Besides the obvious pain involved in its bite, it is the way this crustacean lives that makes it terrifying.

  The Cymothoa exigua is actually parasite of fish.  This tiny crustacean crawls into a fish's mouth and attaches itself to the tongue.  Once there, it draws blood from the fish and feeds.  Having the blood flow stopped, the tongue soon atrophies and fall off.  Not fun.  But!  This little stinker then fully attaches itself and "becomes" the fish's tongue.  That way the host fish can still feed and the parasite can remain inside for its whole life or that of the fish...whichever comes first.  Other than the obvious aggravation of having a parasite inside your mouth that you cannot remove (either because you cannot reach it or if you do remove it, you have no tongue and will die), there seems to be no side effects to the fish.  

  There are side effects to me, however, as those things bite...hard!  They are vicious little rascals!  I encounter most of them in my bait bucket.  This time of year, just about every menhaden out there has one of these as their tongue.  Well, let a minnow die in the bait bucket and the parasite immediately detaches itself and goes on the search of a new host.  Since all of the other minnows already house their very own ugly beast, the critter searches for the next best thing...usually my hand. The critter will latch onto your skin and not let go!  Not only do they hurt but the sheer terror of having something that is so creepy embedded on your finger is enough to send a normally sane person into a round of fits.  This afternoon, I was on the pier, shaking my hand like a crazy woman!  

  I had just caught a small redfish.  After unhooking it and releasing it, I reached down to rinse my hand in the bait bucket.  At the same time, my other line started whipping out.  Not thinking, I grabbed the pole with one hand and rinsed the other.  Geez!  The parasite latched onto my finger.  Now I was in a fine fix!  A fish on the line being held with the left hand and a critter attached to the finger on my right.  No matter how much I shook that hand, the parasite was not about to let go.  Ouch!!! That thing hurt!  Finally, I had the good sense to rub my hand against the pier post to dislodge the wee beast!  Whew!  All of that and the fish on the pole was nothing but a catfish!  That did it.  Fishing came to a halt for the day.  

 

Preparing for Cooler Weather!

  This morning, we had our first hint of fall.  At sunrise, a slight north wind gave the idea that perhaps the weather would be cooler this week. Any cool front is welcome but this one more than others.  With this cool front making its way to the Coast, all three hurricanes may just be steered in a different direction. Now if we could just get a full blown cold front to blow them all out to sea, things would be nigh on perfect. Besides, I am ready for fall. With fall comes the Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou and Halloween!

  While pondering the approach of cooler weather, a racket over my head made me peer upwards.  Whack!  A small branch fell from an oak tree and hit my shoulder.  That type of "fall" I do not like! Then I heard a hasty chattering of a squirrel in the top of a nearby tree.  Aha!  The culprit!  The next twenty minutes were spent watching this little squirrel as she built a huge nest.  This, in itself, is a sure sign of fall.  Squirrels all over the hillside are in the nest building mode.  The springtime nests that housed mama and baby squirrels will be abandoned and new ones built.  These new homes will be lined a bit heavier and will seem a bit bulkier than the spring ones.  While a good many squirrels will use hollow trees or abandoned woodpecker holes for wintertime nests, others will stick with their leafy abodes.  Our winters are never too severe so the squirrels will be snug in their leaf nests. 

  The nest starts as a few twigs placed in the crotch or fork of tree branches.  The twigs are woven to create a platform then other twigs are placed to build a dome shape over the platform.  Usually, oak branches are used as the leaves are durable.  The nest will have two "doors" for easy escape in case a predator attacks.  The inner portion is lined with soft leaves, moss and grasses.  In fact, by the time the squirrel is satisfied with its home, the nest will be pretty much sealed against the weather.  Once inside, the squirrel will stay warm and dry.

  Watching this little critter create its home gave me hope that we will actually "have" winter this year.  Last year, was unbelievably warm.  I need cold!  I need winter!  Oh, I need FALL FIRST! 

That Little Thief!

  Just when I think things are under control, a new wrinkle gets tossed in the laundry...or garden, in this case.  This spring, the weather has been ideal for growing.  Plants are flourishing and the garden is producing enough that I do not have to go grocery shopping.  Actually, it is producing enough that I can preserve a good bit for this winter.   I am pleased.  With all the effort spent putting in and caring for the garden, it is nice to see some return.  It is not nice, however, to see how the garden is being raided by those not willing to lend a hand.

  About three days ago, I noticed a squirrel dart up the oak tree right next to the house.  That critter had something rosy red in its clutches.  My first thought was that the squirrel had raided the peach tree and made off with one of my lovely peaches.  Not so.  He had one of my lovely tomatoes instead!  I figured that one tomato would not hurt that much so I did nothing to deter the critter.  Now I find that perhaps I should have "had words" with this fine fellow.  He has taken a notion that it is all fine and dandy to raid the garden on a daily basis.  Still, this would not cause me worry except that the squirrel has decided that he should sample the goods before choosing his favorite.  A nice, plump tomato was laid on the ground next to the bush.  It was about one third eaten.  Four other tomatoes were scattered about the garden.  Obviously, the squirrel could not make up his mind which tasted the best. I was a tad miffed. to say the least.

  I am quite sure that I have not seen the last of Mr. Squirrel so now the tomatoes are picked twice a day.  None are left to tempt the squirrel.  Maybe he will get the message that he is not welcome in the garden and he should stick with pillaging the bird feeders.  I did notice that he is getting quite fat so perhaps karma will catch up with him.  There is a huge hawk scanning the area so Mr. Squirrel might just become dinner for some little ones.  Stay out of my garden!

If Only Folks Would Listen To Reason

  Sometimes things aggravate me a bit.  Just today, someone who I thought would know better, threatened to do something that I consider stupid and a bit, lets just say, unwarranted.  A friend found a juvenile possum in her yard.  It seems that her dog was barking at the frightened animal and that irritated her.  She was also afraid that the possum would make a home in her attic, bite her or the dog, and ravage her garden.  Others were egging on with misinformation and many false ideas.  "Possums are vicious!",  "They will eat everything.", "They carry rabies and will infect your whole family!" were just a few of the ignorant remarks that were thrown at her.  Sad to say, she was gullible and considering putting out poison for the poor critter.  

  Needless to say, I tried to intervene and save the possum's life.  The wee thing obviously had just been weaned and abandoned by its mother.  It was being harassed by the dog.  It was scared, hungry and homeless.  My efforts to convince my friend that possums are useful and will not needlessly attack anyone, probably fell on deaf ears.  It makes me sad to think that an innocent life may be taken merely because people fail to understand that critters have a place in this world just as we do.  Possums are amazing animals that eat a ton of bugs, grubs and worms.  They will feed upon rotted fruits and vegetables that make a mess in the garden.  They actually feast upon ticks that carry disease and it is rare that one will contract rabies.  The body temperature of a possum is too low which makes it difficult for the virus to survive.

  The little possum in the picture is of one that was found several years ago by Ms. Ez, my dearly departed Bayou Dog.  Ezzy found the little one and immediately wanted to adopt it.  She did not bark at it or try to kill it.  She felt the need to help.  It is strange how another critter can sometimes be far more sensitive than some people.  Ms. Ez and I helped the little critter by feeding and watering it.  We allowed it to spend a few nights in the shed (its choice) before it went on its merry way.  I felt like we enabled it to become stronger and Ms. Ez loved having her "baby" for a few days.  I can only hope my friend at least allowed her young possum to live freely.  I tried.