Summer Pools

June 17, 2002

P6062117

Provided by: Martin Ruzek, USRA
Summary authors & editors: Martin Ruzek

More than ample spring rains in northeastern Wisconsin have watered this sylvan pool past its brim. Hidden in a corner of the woods, this dark water will refresh white tail deer, raccoon, fox and coyote well into the summer. Beneath the surface, masses of wood frog eggs are maturing to become tadpoles. Mosquito wrigglers are developing as well as caddisfly larvae, armored in bits of twigs and leaves as partial protection from hungry frogs and occasional ducks. The cool evening stillness of the scene beckons the wandering photographer, but within a few days squadrons of mosquitos will emerge from their sheltering pools to feed and breed, further isolating the pond from most human visitors. Only the maple trees will be watching, dropping an occasional leaf as a contribution to this unassuming cycle of life.

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