The Circle of Life

 

ature is beautiful.  Nature is amazing.  Nature is cruel. 

I love the wildlife but I often don’t love their ways. 

Bon Bon Pond is home to an ever-increasing number of Bald Eagles who have developed quite a taste for muskrat.  While it’s thrilling to see the big birds around here it’s not as much fun to watch them hunt.  On Sunday a young raptor I hadn’t seen before decided to catch dinner and eat it right in front of my living room window.

Watching him consume the unfortunate little creature  was gruesome yet fascinating.  I was impressed that nothing—sans the tail and legs—went  to waste.  Nature—at its most efficient.

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Muskrats in Winter

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Suzie & Sam's Cold Weather Digs

Love Story

With their winter lodge completed, muskrats Susie and Sam spend hours of quality time  together just sitting on a partially submerged tree branch watching the geese and ducks and enjoying the mild weather.

Muskrat Update

I’m happy to report I observed my “Sam” has a “Susie” and located one of their homes.  Hope to see kits this spring!

Muskrat Love!

Good news to report!  Yesterday afternoon, a lone muskrat was seen swimming past the dock.  These delightful little mammals used to be a pond staple but in recent years their presence has greatly diminished. My neighbor Bonnie, Lord, Master and Overseer of the east shore, had observed that our bald eagle had a fondness for these semi-aquatic members of the rodentia order, which could explain their disappearance.  

I am so happy to see one as they play an important role in the ecosystem of Bon Bon Pond by controlling weeds.  I hope yesterday’s sighting is a harbinger of a return to a healthy population.  Fingers and toes crossed!  

Muskrats are most active at dawn and dusk so I will try and get some photos tonight.

 I have yet to find this information documented, but muskrats adore crab apples.  I used to love to watch them sit for long periods of time happily chomping on fruit that had fallen to the ground.  


Welcome back, my furry friends!