Written December 29, 2020, age 7.
A vernal pond is a pond that only appears in spring in forests because the winter snow melts and leaves water which fills up holes that make a vernal pond. This makes vernal ponds unique. They act like wetlands but are temporary, this is believed because they are only seen in spring and they dry up in the summer and fall and winter and come back next spring. The rainwater helps the animals in spring!
Salamanders, toads, and frogs lay their eggs in these ponds. Ducks, egrets, and hawks get some food and water from the ponds. If we destroy them, many animals will lose their home and those animals could die because they won’t have enough food or water for life. Invertebrates and amphibians make their homes here. Other animals, such as snakes and raccoons, benefit from vernal ponds too because vernal ponds provide food to them.
Humans are destroying these unique ponds and the animals’ homes that live in the ponds.
There is an episode of Nature Cat where you can learn about vernal ponds. The episode is called “Return to Mighty Mountain/Welcome to the Vernal Pond.” There are so many cool things about vernal ponds! Try going to one of our listed sources to learn more about them. Please subscribe.
Sources:
Article, “Vernal Ponds: Seasonal Habitats for Wildlife,” College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, February 5, 2005.
Page, “Vernal Pools,” Environmental Protection Agency, accessed December 27, 2020.
Article, “Protecting Vernal Pools,” Mass Audubon, accessed December 29, 2020.