Last year, I created a new backyard pond, with a feeder stream and waterfall, to provide habitat for the native Oregon tiny tree frogs that hide among the strawberries and flowers in our garden.
But all of nature seems to conspire against those bee-sized frogs. Last week I found solid evidence that raccoons are after the tree frogs.
The Backyard Science group regularly publishes The Daily Bucket, which features observations of the world around us. What's in your backyard? Funny insects, unusual birds, pretty flowers, healthy vegetables, or shy snakes?
Any of these and much more are worthy additions to the Bucket and its comments. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment, and provide a picture if you can. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to as we try to understand the patterns that are unwinding around us.
Fortunately, the raccoon is inept. As the prior picture shows, it left behind muddy pawprints, alerting me to its night time raids.
I am not too worried, however. The pond where it is hunting, doesn't have any tree frogs in it by now. They all matured into frogs from tadpoles, and scattered to the four corners of the garden. There was only one inch-long fish in that pond, and I haven't even seen it for a long time.
The coon may have nailed a bullfrog or two in that pond, but that was several months ago.
It looks like the coon has sat on the rocks, and scooped out a few paws-full of duckweed. Maybe there was a water bug or snail in that pile; not a very good harvest.
I am hoping the coon moves on to my other ponds, where a few bullfrogs still lurk.
Now It's Your Turn What's interesting to you? Please post your own observations and your general location in the comments. I'll respond after lunchtime because I work tomorrow morning.
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" will be posted every Saturday at 1pm and Wednesday at 3:30 pm Pacific Time on the Daily Kos front page. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.