Skinequit Pond Wildlife

Skinequit Pond and its environs host a wide variety of mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and insects. The pond’s water provides a habitat for bullfrogs, green frogs, painted and snapping turtles, fresh water mussels, catfish, sunfish, perch and smaller fish such as minnows. In the spring, alewife herring struggle up the herring run on Uncle Venie’s Road to spawn in the pond; after laying their eggs, the females return to the sea, while the young herring remain in the freshwater until maturity. Invertebrates-pond skaters, dragonflies, mayflies, beetles -also call the pond home.

The pond’s most infamous resident is a large snapping turtle affectionately named Uncle Venie and estimated to be between 50 and 75 years old. He often can be seen poking his head out of the water and checking out activity on the pond. In fact, there are likely several snapping turtles of similar size and age and at least one Mrs. Venie, who has been seen leaving the pond to lay eggs each spring.

Skinequit’s fresh waters attract many birds that feast on the pond’s plentiful fish. In addition to the ubiquitous gulls, cormorants, ducks and geese, ospreys, hawks (red tailed, cooper’s and many more) and owls often circle the pond looking for dinner. One can often hear the distinctive call of the kingfisher or see the majestic flight of a great blue heron returning to its nest. The pond has also been a temporary home to swans, snowy egrets, night herons, great white egrets and many other fowl. The woods and birdfeeders around the pond attract a wide array of species, including blue jays, cardinals, orioles, tanagers, finches, chickadees, hummingbirds, mourning doves, woodpeckers, robins, and crows.

The areas around the pond provide a sheltered habitat for animals such as muskrats, voles, opossum, fisher cats, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, foxes, cottontail rabbits and deer. On occasion, the eerie shriek of a fisher cat or the yipping of a den of coyote pups can be heard late at night-sounds one does not easily forget!

The ecosystem that has developed around Skinequit Pond is dependent on a number of variables in order survive. Water temperature, oxygen content, water cleanliness and material at the bottom of the pond all have an influence on the kind of life that is present in and around the pond. Although some of this is beyond human control, preventing further contamination and finding solutions to improve the quality of the water will contribute to the health and welfare of the pond’s wildlife and bring enjoyment to the human residents for many years to come.