High Water on Wacouta Pond
"Why has the water in Wacouta pond stayed so high for so long?" Without a doubt this has been the most frequently asked question I have received since starting Wacouta Nature Notes.
Ever since the flooding that occurred as a result of the heavy rains on March 13th and 14th, the water in Wacouta pond has been unusually high. Part of the answer to this question is no real outlet exists for water to drain out.
To further explain the situation, I had to turn to an expert on the subject. Beau Kennedy, Water Planner and Wetland Administrator for Goodhue County. He explained to me the persisting high levels on the river create a pressure preventing the pond to drain through the sandy soil underneath. Evidently, there is only an 8 foot difference in elevation between the pond and the river.
So as we enter the new era of unmistakable climate change with mega rainfall events, it appears the new normal will be high water levels on the river as well as the pond throughout the summer.
Joe-Pye Weed
As the title of this post indicates, colors in the prairie sections along the Rattlesnake Bluff trail continue to be most impressive. The purplish flower heads of the tall Joe-Pye Weed are impossible to miss. The roots of this perennial wildflower were used medicinally by early American physicians and the plant was gathered by Native Americans to make "strengthening baths."
Purple Prairie Clover
Another colorful, common prairie plant along the trail now is the petite purple prairie clover. This abundant perennial is best suited to dry habitat and often grows in patches. The seeds from this plant are consumed by birds and small mammals. The purple flowers attract many pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Widow Skimmer Dragonfly
As I have been biking on the trail the past few weeks, I have observed numerous widow skimmer dragonflies. The preferred habitat for these insects is still bodies of water such as ponds and lakes. Fortunately for us, dragonflies consume large numbers of mosquitoes.
Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly
Have you ever wondered why butterflies gather around mud puddles or on crushed rock roads? This is a common behavior for many species of butterflies in which they seek out basic nutrients from the soil. This fritillary was one of many I recently observed on a section of crushed rock. This behavior is known as puddling.
Daytime Raccoon
Around 3:00 pm in the afternoon of July 3rd, I received a phone call from our neighbor Martha Van Dyke reporting an adult raccoon in her front yard. Given the fact raccoons are generally nocturnal, she suspected it might be sick. Upon closer examination of the situation, I concluded it was simply feasting on a bumper crop of ripe white mulberries fallen from a tree in her yard.
White Mulberries
White mulberry trees are native to China and were cultivated for centuries. The leaves from these trees were the main food serving the silkworm industry. They were introduced into the Southeastern United States years ago for the same purpose. That venture failed and the rest is history! Another invasive species to deal with.
Barn Bluff Prairie
After observing the beautiful prairie along the trail for several days, I decided it was time to hike Barn Bluff and compare its prairie regarding colors and species. Early in the morning of July 5th, I made that climb and was not the least bit disappointed. The prairie flower most obvious on the southeast section of the bluff was prairie coreopsis. What an awesome view of the prairie and the river valley.
Young Buck
My biggest surprise on the bluff was observing a young 5 point buck with velvet covered antlers.