Critters at work!

    Well, folks, you know it has been raining a lot when snails seek refuge on the pier.  While it is a common sight to see the snails on pier posts, it is rare to find them on the pier planks unless something has dropped them there.  Nope.  This morning, snails were taking a stroll on the pier.  I had to be careful not to step on them as these are helpful critters.  I sure do not want to smash any critter that is going to do me a favor.

  The olive nerites are sweet little snails that feed on algae.  They are found all over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean more often in brackish waters like that of the Bayou. They are also popular aquarium critters but will not reproduce in the fresh water.  The snails have a marine larval stage so make use of the brackish water.  Usually, they can be found on anything that stays in the water long enough to get a slight coating of algae.  The lower part of the marsh grass is covered with the critters as they clean the roots and stalks.  To find them on the upper planks makes me think that the copious rains actually encouraged some type of algae growth on the planks.  The snails were merely there to do me the favor of cleaning the boards so I would not slip!  (At least, that is MY story!)

  Hopefully, we shall have a few days to dry out before the next round of bad weather sets in over the Bayou.  Getting any outside chores accomplished has been nigh on impossible and it shows.  Time to get it in high gear for the next few days.  Stay dry, folks, and appreciate the algae eating snails!

Janitors of the mudflats!

  This afternoon, Mr. PJ and I made our way to the pier.  When we reached the spot where low tide creates massive mudflats, an unusual mass exodus was taking place.  Thousands upon thousands of nerite snails were slowly making their way from the water to the mudflats.  These usually cling to the pier posts, crab pots and boats and are not often found heading inshore.  At first this concerned me a bit as thoughts entered my head of the (not too long ago) oil spills that sent every critter into a bit of "getaway" frenzy.  What was up with this long trek for the tiny snails??

  As the old dog and I sat watching the snails (well, he napped, I watched), an answer to my question came to focus.  The snails were not actually going inshore but rather stopping on the mudflats due to their favorite food source was plentiful.  These snails feed on algae and even during high tide (when the flats are flooded) this secluded area is covered with algae.  Since the marsh grass has completely cut off the access route from the Bay, the small cut is dependent on water seeping through the marsh to fill it.  There is no tidal flow to clear out any algae growth so the spot has become completely clogged with the green blob. The bright sunshine has caused the stuff to flourish.

  The small nerites have come to feast upon their favorite food.  Word has gotten out that the "salad bar" of the mudflats is now open! Life on the flats is now dominated by nerites and fiddler crabs as nothing else can survive the clogged waterway.  Before this week, bull minnows, mosquito fish and mullet all sought refuge in the shallows and safety provided by the tide pool.  I could catch bait here with one throw of the net.  Not any more! My last throw caught me about thirty pounds of green slime!  Ok, little snails, feast away!  Eat that gunk out of the pool so the fish can breathe once again!  Do your cleanup job!  Ha!  Nerites...the janitors of the mudflats!  What an important job they have!

The Long Path

  Low tide on the Bayou is such an interesting time.  Things that are normally hidden beneath the murky waters become exposed.  So many things float in on the tide then become stuck in the mud or marsh. Sometimes, these things are a nuisance.  Irresponsible boaters toss garbage in the waters and invariably that trash winds up at my pier.  I often ponder how those same folks would feel if I threw my garbage in their front yard.  Something to think about, now isn't it.  But not all things brought in sight are ugly!  An old algae covered log can be intriguing while shells can be down right beautiful.  

  This afternoon, the tide was far out from the shoreline.  While the usual driftwood and clam shells could be seen, several "paths" are what caught my eye.  Resembling the otter slides but only tiny, these paths were made by snails.  Olive Nerites were making their way from the waterless shore to the waves lapping on the soft mud. Each snail left a smooth trail as they slowly trekked toward the water.  Each long path (well, at least long for a tiny snail) was about a half inch wide and maybe ten feet in length.  

  I watched one snail for quite a while.  The poor little guy only moved about six inches in that time.  It occurred to me that by the time the snail reached the water's edge, the tide would be shifting.  The rising tide would make his hard work a moot point.  Just about the time he made it safely to the water, the incoming tide would put the snail right back where he started.  A least, he made the effort to better his situation.   Sometimes, it seems to be best to sit back and wait when things seem out of whack but that is not always the case.  I guess I figure that it never hurts to try to improve things when you can.  You will never know what you can do unless you try!