Dragonflies love ponds and other wetlands because there are so many insects to eat. Dragonflies have four wings that can move independently, allowing this insect not only to fly but also to hover like a helicopter over the pond. The blue dasher dragonfly, also known as the blue pirate, catches bugs in the air and may devour hundreds in a single day. Dragonfly larvae are just as fierce while they’re developing underwater. They eat mostly aquatic insects and other larvae but have even been known to catch small tadpoles and tiny fish in their powerful jaws. Ospreys are master anglers that fly over lakes, ponds, and rivers watching for prey. When they spot a fish, they dive feet first, clutch the unlucky fish in their talons, and carry it back to their perch or nest to eat or to feed their young. Some ospreys are seasoned travelers as well—some may travel more than a hun- dred thousand miles migrating over a lifetime. Raccoons are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They’ll gobble fruits and greens, raid nests for eggs, and hunt for crayfish and frogs. Raccoons have super-fast paws and fingers that are good for grabbing their prey. In northern climates, they eat a lot in the warmer months because they sleep a lot during the winter, using up the stored fat. Mink live in burrows in the banks of ponds, rivers, and lakes. They’re champion swimmers that can dive up to 16 feet (5 metres) deep in search of prey. Mink eat a wide variety of pond creatures, including crayfish, frogs, fish, and small mam- mals. They don’t have many natural predators other than bob- cats and coyotes. Their biggest threat is humans, who trap them for their fur.
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