How A Rat Got Close To Turtles

I wrote my turtle posts in backwards order for you so that you wouldn't feel teased by the promise of closeup turtle pictures to come. I'd normally tell you the story first, then I'd give you the cool closeup shots. Since I gave you the closeups yesterday, today I have the super interesting story of how this rat was able to get the pictures.

It all started last fall. I was walking over to the hidden extra part of the pond when I saw some shiny things on a log in the water. I soon realized that they were actually a log full of turtles! The only problem was that the tall cattails were in the way. When I tried to move closer to the turtles and past the cattails, every last turtle crawled into the water! Plop, plop, ploop!!!

I've been determined ever since then to get another chance at those turtles. It took me six months to do it, but this time I used a different strategy when I saw those same turtles through the cattails.

Instead of trying to move in close as I got past those tall plants, I walked as far away from the pond as I could, right up to the edge of the close forest. Most of the turtles still clumsily plopped into the water, but there were enough that stayed behind for me to get my pictures!

I busily began taking as many pictures as I could of these wonderful creatures, knowing that this was very important so I could share this with anyone who was willing to look. "I found turtles!" That was all I kept thinking while I furiously took all those pictures.

But then I noticed something over at a farther corner of the pond.

There was another log, and it was still full of turtles! As soon as I saw those turtles, I remember seeing shiny spots on this log from a distance at other times before. I was just never this close to it. I was now determined to get even closer, and I had never gone any farther around that pond than I was right now.

I looked over and discovered that not only could I get closer, there was a very small deer path going all the way around the pond! I could walk right over there to this second log! Luck was on my side as I made my way there because the turtles never noticed me.

While I walked the path to get closer, a vole ran in front of me and into a hole in the ground. I wasn't fast enough to get a picture. That was okay because I already had my target. But there was something else about this second log that I haven't mentioned yet...

Turtles weren't the only occupants of the log. Two Canada geese were resting on the log, side by side with the turtles! This was an interesting development. The turtles didn't like me very much, but they liked the geese just fine. And I was able to stay far enough away from this log so I didn't upset them. In fact, it was the geese that finally moved away from me first.

After getting all of the pictures I wanted, and more, I finally walked all the way around the pond, and back to the other side. Other adventures were awaiting this everyday adventurer that claims to be a fake rat. That concludes my great turtle adventure. I just broadened my horizons by finding all of these turtles, and I went a little further in my knowledge that it isn't turtles all the way down. Just for fun, look that term up.

Over at Nature Center Magazine today we have a new contributor! Sharkbytes is a well known favorite of many of you here. Go take a look at her informative and entertaining article on learning about ferns! She did an excellent job. After reading her article, follow the links back to her blogs to tell her how much you enjoyed it!