The Enraged Otter

Life on the slough behind the house. The slough looks scummy now, like a prime mosquito breeding area. During the day, the bull frogs croak, big loud calls, and I don't know if this is a mating or a territorial thing or they just feel like giving voice. After dark the spring peepers start in, a shrill chorus.
I hadn't seen the pair of mallards since the Week of Rain, and worried that their nest might have been flooded or washed away.
Yesterday Significant Other was grilling burgers in the back yard, and I was, alas, in the shower. When I came downstairs he said, "you missed all the excitement."
He had seen an otter chasing a duck along the slough. Not once, but twice, The otter seemed very determined to "put the git" on the duck and finally the duck disappeared down the slough. Half an hour later, with dusk falling, I sat on the deck sipping a "Sea Breeze" when I saw a disturbance in the slough water. Lo, seven baby ducks paddled from the direction the duck had skedaddled. They swam into a backwater where there were hidden, and I didn't see otter or parents. They were small but not tiny, so obviously had so far survived storms, otter and other predators. Awfully cute. Where were the parents?
There is always a new thing to worry about. I looked on the web and saw no mention of otters eating ducks, but who knows? The slough is a wild place, and could be home to all manner of critters.

The poison ivy is leafed out all over. Beware beware. It's a damned ground cover. Now our walks will have to be circumspect. The lake is full of weeds and no turtles, ducks or geese were in sight.

More anon,

Grapeshot