Scruffy

This scruffy little critter is a wet muskrat. Wet because he had been diving under the water. You are looking at the left side of his head. Can you see the beady black eye? Try looking at him large. When I first spotted him in the pond, I thought it really was a rat. Then a family with children saw him, and the park naturalist told them it was a muskrat. Apparently they eat frogs, tadpoles, and the like. Actually he is a large semi-aquatic rodent that is related to the beaver.

I also saw a northern water snake, lots of mallards, a huge frog, two herons, and this dancing duck. I had a delightful hour at the pond, although supper was a little late because I took too long blipping these critters. Blame that blip addiction!