Autumn Meadowhawk
It’s a particularly warm October day. The sun is shining through the tops of the trees, through the red and yellow leaves still left. As you approach a clearing, two red dragonflies fly through the air, dancing in the gentle breeze. One lands, sunning itself on a rock. Adult Autumn Meadowhawks (Sympetrum Vicinum) fly from late July to early November, flying later than any other species of dragonfly or damselfly. They feed on mosquitos, providing a useful service as natural pest control. The red dragonfly ascends, taking flight with another of its kind.
Sitting at the edge of a stream, you discover a large, green frog swimming and jumping in the cool water. The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) spends the winter underwater in the bottom of a pond or stream and has a lifespan of about seven to 10 years. In order to survive the freezing winter temperatures, American Bullfrogs’ organs store extra glucose leading up to hibernation. They spend the winter in the water and can even survive being completely frozen. This bullfrog jumps up out of the water, showing off, as it prepares to lay low during the following months.
Evening comes and the sun begins to set. The North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) is out to play. These semi-aquatic mammals are highly mobile and mostly nocturnal in the spring, summer and autumn seasons. They are found in a diverse number of habitats, in coastal areas as well as inland. They are spread across the United States, but are extremely sensitive to the effects of pollution. A lone otter swims in the small pond, occasionally diving below the surface. It gracefully resurfaces, but notices the presence of others. It swims to the side of the pond and walks up onto the bank, disappearing into some reeds. North American River Otters are active all year: they do not hibernate in the winter. The otter makes a burrow near its water source.
