We live in an interesting area west of Chicago. Fifteen years ago, we built a house at the end of what was a row of "farmettes." As nearly as I can tell, that means long, deep lots that may have been used to keep horses or farm animals, or perhaps to have small veggie farms. Our land had been purchased in the 1930S by a couple who started a nursery. The remains of the nursery can be seen in the grove behind our house, and the evergreens on our lawn.
We've left the grove rough, so that the animals who were here first have habitat. Deer regularly use our lawn as a freeway between forest preserves.
The neighbors packed up a few years ago, sold their land to a developer and took off for the wilds of Idaho. Sometimes I think we should have gone with them. Still, there have been some interesting developments.
We have a groups of lakes to the east of us which are designed to hold the run off water from the subdivisions that have sprung up. Further down the road to the west, an egret habitat has been created, so man is making an effort to provide some nature among the housing that's grown up around us, even if the effort is self-serving.
On our travels lately, we've become aware of something interesting happening in the ponds. At first, we thought beavers had moved in. We saw a tree that had been downed in the classic gnawed manner of a beaver. Then we saw what we thought were beaver lodges. But, there were too many lodges in one tiny area. I did a little research on-line, and now I think that we may have one beaver family and several muskrats.
I learned here, that muskrats tend to use grasses and reeds to make their lodges. A muskrat family will use a lodge for a year and move on to new home as the offspring are ready to strike out on their own. Beavers build for more permanence, often creating obstructions and dams.
The geese who choose to stay with us during the winter have taken to sitting on top of these lodges. It will be interesting to watch for the muskrats over the winter. It's difficult to get close to the ponds unless you hike in and even then it will require binoculars to get a close look at the inhabitants because the edges of the lakes are surrounded by prairie grasses. We may have to settle for an occasional glimpse from the car, as we drive by.
As we discussed the possibility that we were seeing muskrats, my Mother came up with "Muskrat Ramble," and wondered where she'd dug that up. I remember it from my childhood. Just about the same time, I was saying "Muskrat Love" and told her about the Captain and Tenille. Strange where our minds go when they are free to roam! *G*