Developers are converting hundreds of acres of grassy fields into business parks southwest of my house. I drive past their projects every day. One day a raccoon mom and half a dozen little ones trekked across the road in front of me, probably fleeing the bulldozers.
Another morning, a white glow caught my eye, north of the road. I stopped and got the picture of the egret shown above, and discovered a 300’ x 300’ pond, with mallards swimming in it, near the egret. The surrounding area was heavily overgrown, including evil thorny blackberries, so I never walked up to the water’s edge.
But I drove past it many times in the last few months, always slowing down and glancing at the waterfowl.
Then a few days ago, they bulldozed the hillside clean, between the road and the pond. I got a good look at the pond, and to my shock, it was almost dry. However, now I could walk right to what was left of the pond’s edge and spy on the aquatic life there, due to the bulldozers clearing some of the vegetation.
I noticed right away that the silt fences which were the only thing that stood between the pond and a mudslide if we get a big rain, was illegally set up.
If they don’t fix this before the rains start, I’ll snitch the Developer off to the State Department of Environmental Quality.
This ends the presentation on busting developers for storm water violations.
Next I jump the silt fence and walked out onto the dried pond. I saw several potential animal burrows, exposed by the low waters.
As I approach, the water seems to boil. Minnows and small bullfrogs and their tadpoles all splash madly and try to swim away from my shadow.
A lovely stranger slithers up.
I forced myself not to catch one of those beautiful garter snakes and bring them home to my backyard ponds. The frogs and goldfish already in my ponds would never have forgiven me.
The snakes are perfectly happy right where they are, too. They have territories and would be upset if abruptly moved to a back yard, even if indolent goldfish lolled around in easy reach.
At least now I know where to go to see garter snakes. That’s pretty neat. If I came by after dark, I could probably see coons, maybe deer. I hope the coons stay at that pond and away from my yard.
I’ll be spying on what’s left of this pond into the near future.
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