Using Your Wits

  Here on the Bayou, life is all about survival of the fittest.  If a weak or sickly critter is meandering about, it becomes food for something stronger.  If a critter is a bit dull witted, a smarter predator is there waiting for it.  This goes on night and day.  At night, you can hear the tussle of critters as they fight for the right to the territory.  The strongest of critters get the good nesting sites and the right to choose their mates.  The weaker ones either are killed or move to a different area.  The squeals and cries of those not strong, are reminiscent of a horror movie at times.  It is not much different during the daytime hours.  Predators abound...some are strong...some depend on their wits...but other critters have to be wary at all times.

  Just today, I watched a few of the wilier ones at work.  While I was not near enough to get photographs of the largest of the bunch, I knew exactly what was occurring.  With the northwest wind whipping about, I knew there would be a low tide. The critters knew this as well.  They are cunning and watch the weather changes.  An otter had made deep slides in the mudflats.  These slides were several inches deep and about a foot wide.  A mishmash of trails literally created a maze in the mud.  The otter was aware that the bull minnows are not the brightest of critters so she created this maze to catch her supper.  She has little ones in the marsh nearby and cannot leave the nest for long to fish.  Her fishing now would rely on this trap.  The dimwitted bull minnows would dawdle about long enough for the tide to trap them in the maze of ruts.  Once the exits were cutoff by lack of water, the minnows would aimlessly go round and round in the maze searching for deeper water.  There was none.  The only water to be found was in the otter slides.  Now it was like catching fish in a barrel for the otter.

  Mama Otter was not the only one smart enough to use the maze to catch her dinner.  A small Gulf Saltmarsh Snake had slipped out of the marsh to patiently way for the minnows to turn a curve in the maze.  The snake would dart in and grab a minnow.  As it swallowed the first one, the minnows frantically swam through the maze only to wind up right back in front of the little snake.  It did not take long before the snake had eaten its fill of minnows.  It then relaxed a bit in the warm sunshine.

  Had the otter visited her maze trap and found the little snake, she would have happily munched it as well as the trapped minnows.  The snake was smart enough to quickly dart back under the roots of the marsh grass when it heard the splashing of the otter.  Both had used their intelligence to gather a meal for the day.  The otter will be back out again tomorrow but since another cool front is coming with the winds, the little snake will stay snug.  Its belly is full so it will wait out the next few days safe and sound under the roots.  Life goes on with the strongest and most intelligent surviving.

Sound the Alarm! There is a Monster on the Pier!!!

  My usual morning hike to the pier was delayed by a good four hours. The grass needed cutting and I wanted to take advantage of the morning's coolness.  Ha!  So much for that.  With no wind, it was sweltering hot!  It still is.  But....I pushed a lawnmower instead of lounging about on the pier.  All of the upper part of the yard is now cut and looks nice.  Tomorrow will see me, once again, out at daybreak pushing that mower.

  However, my hike down the pier was eventful even at the late hour.  About half way down the pier, I noticed the otter slides in the soft mud. They looked recent so I started looking for the playful pups.  After about five minutes of staring at marsh, I realized that the four pups were right beneath me!  All four had taken refuge under the pier and were terrified to move.  The monster (me) on the pier was too frightening!  Now I was in a fix!  I was so very close to the pups but still could not get the coveted photograph! After a couple of attempts, I eased my way down the pier a bit further in hopes that the pups would come out to play.  No such luck!  From my brother's pier, I heard a desperate cry.  A loud squeak from Mama Otter told her babies to stay put and that she was coming. She hurried through the marsh trails until she was sure that I was not between her and the pups. Her squeaks changed tones and all four little ones dashed to her side and the family slid under the thatched marsh that hid their nest.  Safe!  But my chance at the elusive photo was gone.

Young otter pup was too close for a clear photo!

  Then a barking sound came from behind me.  Papa Otter had heard the commotion and came to help Mama.  He took the more direct approach of trying to scare me.  He barked, dove under water, barked and then made his way under the pier.  The distraction was enough to let his little family nestle down under the thatching.  He soon slipped into the marsh and from a different direction entered the nest.  All were safe and sound!  

Papa Otter coming to the rescue!

   I enjoy the little otters and hope they always nest near the pier.  Their antics amuse me and it is good to know the marsh is healthy enough to support life. I will ease down early in the morning before cutting to see if I can get another glimpse of my little friends.