Natural history update
Tuesday, 25 June 2024
The grass came on fast this year, and is much taller than in recent years. Why?
Here’s why. There was very little snow last winter, as in multiple locals have told me they used their snowblowers only twice…twice total. That’s in contrast to near daily or even twice a day. No snow.
So, when the temps began to rise in the spring, the soil got warm faster, and the grass began growing earlier, and it “went tall.” Normally, it is unable to span this path when it lodges. Also, we usually can look over the grass heads and get glimpses of the lake. Not so this summer.
We had rain overnight and in the early hours of the morning, but then most of the clouds scooted and I waded in the lake. Yes, the clear water looks beautiful, but it’s clear because of the infestation of zebra mussels (native to Eurasia, brought in ballast water to the Great Lakes, then spread by fisherfolk and boaters). Zebra mussels are filter feeders removing plankton and whatever from the water. This does help the eagles and other predators to see prey, however. The mussels therefore upset the food web big time.