Traumatized

With all the crazy things going on in my life lately - I try to keep positive - but it is hard sometimes.

Last night my husband and I took our two dogs on a walk around the neighborhood before the rain blew in. It was warm and pleasant outside and we walked our usual route - out to one of the man-made ponds in our complex.

The recent rains had greatly raised the water level and I think the run off from nearby chemically treated lawns and fields have been seeping in toxins because there was a lot of dead fish all along the edges of the pond.

As we were looking at the sad sight of so much dead fish in an obviously contaminated pond - we noticed a little duckling swimming all alone along the edge of the shoreline. Glancing around you saw only Canadian geese and a couple of mallards. No family of mama ducks or additional ducklings anywhere.

Being the concerned animal lover that I am - lol- I thought of I would try and catch the little duck - buy some duck food at the local feed store and then take him to my grandfather's farm or the stream near my grandmother's house.

As I walked towards the little guy, he, of course, began swimming away from me - as he quickly swam cross the dip at the corner of the pond - he faltered. It looked like his tripped on something.

He quickly disappeared from the water and I though - ok, he is so scared he is diving away - well, except HE NEVER CAME BACK UP!

So I am pretty sure something ate the baby duckling. :( OMG! Is there really something big enough in our little local pond to eat a baby duck?!

All I have to say is that I am no longer going to let my little Lola drink from the edge of the pond - no way!

Jeez - so much for our lovely evening walk restoring my spirit!

I just kinda stood there - shocked. My hubby was standing behind me with the dogs - and he kinda uttered a little sound after a few minutes and said, "Um, Stacy, I don't think he is coming back up."

And I was like, "No...no.....he will come up...lets wait a little longer...."

But no...he never came back up.

Geez now I feel terrible - I am pretty sure he never would have gotten eaten if I wouldn't have walked out towards him. Sigh.

And this morning - I researched what could be big enough to eat a duckling - I guess, for one...bass larger than 1 lb eat small ducks. Ok...well, I see people fishing in our ponds all the time- I bet they are stocked with bass. :( Or it was a snapping turtle - scary!

Image from Ducks & Other Waterfowl