Mr. Big by Carol Dembicki

Author:Carol Dembicki
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

AFTERWORD

Apond community is a small, self-contained natural ecosystem, which holds a delicate balance of life. At times, animals can be predators, and at other times, in turn, can serve as prey for larger, faster, more aggressive species.

One such animal that participates in preserving this natural balance in ponds and slow-moving waterways of the United States is the common snapping turtle. These prehistoric-looking, aggressive, and largely aquatic animals reach a size of about twenty inches in length and are found throughout the country, from the East Coast to west of the Rocky Mountains, and south into Central America. Snapping turtles can live to a ripe old age of fifty to one hundred years.

In a pond environment, these turtles feed on anything from small mammals and fish to frogs, birds, and plants. Snapping turtles are considered a top predator in pond environments as they have few, if any, natural enemies because of their large size.

Unfortunately, there are those who do not understand the importance of these reptiles and consider them a nuisance. Once a snapper decides to live in a pond, the population of fish, amphibians, aquatic reptiles, and birds can drop at a rapid rate. But a snapping turtle is a natural and necessary inhabitant of pond life, whether you choose to admire or fear it.

Over the past several years, however, a much larger and more sinister problem has come into our local environment.

This problem includes nonnative animals, plants, and other foreign life. The environment’s delicate harmony is in trouble because it does not yet have any way to contain the invaders. One such species is the Asian snakehead fish, which has been introduced as a result of the exotic pet trade. This fish is a large and toothy predator that has quickly adapted to the local climate and aquatic environment. In a pond community, a nonnative and aggressive alien such as the snakehead can do a lot of harm to the local animal population, unless a larger, native predator decides to broaden its menu choices.

Another threat is the West Nile virus, which finds life in local waters. A disease organism from Africa, it is typically spread through a mosquito bite. A common mosquito that begins life as a larva in small bodies of water, such as ponds, has now become a threat not only to animals but humans too.

As winter approaches, the life in a pond, whether peaceful or scary, native or introduced, goes into the deep sleep of hibernation for the cold months. This is a good time to reflect upon the sometimes peaceful and sometimes violent natural balance of life in a pond. As spring approaches, however, and daytime temperatures start to warm up, you may hear a splash. Make sure to look around you, because you might find yourself face-to-face with the snapping turtle, Mr. Big!

—Sean Henderson

Sean Henderson is an animal keeper at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, where he works with aquatic animals, including reptiles.

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