Pond Life
What lives in a pond?
Goal:
Goal:
There are many living things in a pond. Animals live at the edge of the pond, in the pond water, and on top of the pond. Click through the slides to find out more about the animals, plants and insects that live in a pond habitat.
Frogs and Turtles
Frogs and turtles find shelter under plants. Snapping turtles are usually the biggest animals in the pond. In the spring, female snapping turtles come out of the pond and make a hole in the ground near the pond. This is where they lay their eggs. It takes about three months for these eggs to hatch into tiny turtles. Frogs lay their eggs in a pond in the early spring. These eggs hatch into tadpoles. It can take up to two years for a tadpole to become a bullfrog!
Beavers and Otters
Beavers often make ponds by building dams across streams. Look for trees around the pond that have been cut down by the beaver’s strong teeth. The beaver drags the logs into the water to build its house. These little animals are very strong! Otters find shelter at the edge of a pond. They dig holes in the mud for protection. They eat snails, insects, fish, and snakes that live in the pond.
Birds
The red-winged blackbird builds a nest around cattails in the pond. These birds lay three or four eggs in their nests, and the eggs hatch in only two weeks. Ducks swim in the water and find their food under water.
Insects
Many insects live near the pond, too. Mosquitoes lay their eggs at the edge of the water in the early spring, and these eggs hatch when the weather is warm. Dragonflies can usually be seen on a pond. Water spiders can be seen skating over the top of the pond.
Snakes
Snakes live near the edge of the pond, where the water is not deep. They eat the smaller animals in the pond.
Algae
You will probably see algae in the pond. Algae are a type of plant that is food for small insects or animals. These insects and small animals are food for smaller fish. In turn, many smaller fish are food for larger fish. Worms are also part of the life of a pond.
Question
What living things can you find in a pond?
You can find frogs, turtles, beavers, otters, birds, insects, snakes, and algae in a pond.