Sunday Pic of the Day

[YellowCreek]

Wild trout!

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Easter gobblers, 5-April-2026

 

[Hem]

This morning I hiked to this endorheic pond, which is essentially on the side of a mountain, and has walls of earth around it no less than 20 ft high.

There is no outflow, and it’s a good half mile from the nearest intermittent stream and over a mile from the nearest perennial one. As far as wet spots on this mountain go, it’s an aberration.

So how did the muskrats find it? According to an article I found from the New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, muskrats can travel up to 20 miles over dry land looking for a new habitat. I’ve never been hiking in the woods far from water and come across a muskrat,  and I wonder what was in the mind of the Rodent Explorer who decided he’d hike a mile and a half and 600 feet in elevation up this dry and timbered mountain for a new home. He must’ve convinced others to go with him.

View attachment 405512

Maybe they can smell water from a good distance.