Watch your step
Remember her? The snapping turtle we photographed in June, laying her eggs by the shore of Como Lake?
On Saturday morning, we started seeing these little guys:
I love that last one, glaring up at us fearlessly.
You can't tell from these pictures, but these hatchlings are tiny, tiny--a little bit bigger than Doug's thumb.
We encountered several of these tiny turtles in the grass, and a few more over by the walking path that runs along the hilltop above the parking lot. It was Doug and Riley who first noticed them; Boscoe was oblivious, and I had thought they were just small clods of dirt.
We encountered several of these tiny turtles in the grass, and a few more over by the walking path that runs along the hilltop above the parking lot. It was Doug and Riley who first noticed them; Boscoe was oblivious, and I had thought they were just small clods of dirt.
Labor Day weekend seemed like a good time for them to emerge. The park is pretty empty, with so many people at the State Fair or up at the cabin for one last long weekend.
The little turtles' job that day was to break out of the shell, claw their way up out of the dirt, and then crawl back down the hill to the lake, all without being eaten. By the time we found them--about 8 a.m.--they had already conquered two of those goals.
Once at the water, would they be safe?
Do I face a moral dilemma, wanting both great blue herons and snapping turtles in my lake?
The little turtles' job that day was to break out of the shell, claw their way up out of the dirt, and then crawl back down the hill to the lake, all without being eaten. By the time we found them--about 8 a.m.--they had already conquered two of those goals.
Once at the water, would they be safe?
Do I face a moral dilemma, wanting both great blue herons and snapping turtles in my lake?
27 comments:
You sue do. We have herons in our local park and they eat all the little ducklings and goslings when they hatch. It is heartbreaking. Those little turtles look so cute and from what you say so tiny too.
*sure do"
That's not a heron, it's an eagle!
I can see your dilemma. Both have to be able to exist at that park, but it is an awful thing to realize that those little turtles are going to be snapped up after their long struggle to get to the water. Luckily, you don't have to make the choice and you can let mother nature take care of it. Just make sure you are not witness to it, so it won't bother you. It's a cruel world, the animal world.
Yes, it is a dilemma alright. It's a struggle and they do look extremely cute.
But then, the herons are lovely, too. You don't have to make a choice between the two species, though. Mother nature will take care of both of them, as long as we don't interfere too much. (I hope...)
Adorable! I just hope they can make the final trek and not become someone's lunch.
I do not like Blue Herron when I have seen them gobble our fingerlings from our newly stocked pond.
The bull frog population has diminished since the entry of Blue Herron.
We used to have fresh frog legs at least twice a summer, now, thanks to the Blue Herron, we have not had one fresh mess in years.
I understand it is part of the life cycle but it is frustrating. I would have been tempted to help all the turtles into the water and shoo the Blue away temporarily until the turtles became comfortable in their new environment.
I don't think the little turtle was glaring at you. I think he was thinking "Nice rack."
Love that last little guy!
I wonder if you'll be writing about seeing some of this clan next spring? I'm sure the heron will miss some of them.
ari that would be particularly unusual given that it was doug who took the pictures...
gail, we thought we did well by alerting a couple of walkers not to step on the little guys.
We need to take up a donation and send eye exam money to Willowtree.
Myabe it's up to the old evolutionary principle of needing both to balance out the scales of survival. Great shots of a once-a-summer event. I felt privileged to see your artwork here! Thanks!
Hugs xo
Sammie
Nature is nature but sometimes little babies should have a fair chance at life. Our momma would interfere but that is our momma. Everyone has a right to make their own decision.
Very cool pictures. I have a stuffy turtle.
Benny & Lily
Mother Nature is a child abuser!
Those are fantastic photos. Kudos to Doug!
HI - glad to discover your blog and see those tender little turtles; reminded me of my own childhood when we saw them most summers. It won't be long before no heron will dare bother them - but nature seems to keep her own balance.
They may be tiny, but they look huge. Great photos!
That is life for you. Survival of the fittest.
QMM
E., thanks for stopping by. and no kidding that once those babies grow the heron will give them a wide berth.... those momma turtles were big. and you know how strong those snappers are.
Wow, I'd have stepped on them too! They do look just like dirt clods.
Snapping turtles eat fish and bit people don't they? They might eat goslings and ducklings too, they look like they might? But the heron does to so........
I'd never seen such small snapping turtles though.
Sweet little guys but we can't interfere with the cycles of nature. I do hope they make it...
XO
WWW
It's a good thing Wolfie didn't come across those babies. He eats turtles, full-grown ones, though not snapping turtles. Nature red in tooth and claw...and heron beak.
they really are the cutest - great photos!
The turtles are so cool! Lucky you to have them near to visit.
Unfortunately the animal world has predators and pray... my Mama has hard time to accept that too...
-lbd
I love love love snapping turtles.
Maybe great blues do too.
darn... they are so ugly they are cute!
nature's way is pretty ugly sometimes. But baby herons have to eat, too.
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