The
Neponset has many different types of fish. They live in the river
itself and in the estuary. They also live in the streams, ponds and
lakes in the watershed.
In the summer, you can sometimes see the
Carp and the Brown bullheads swimming in shallow sections of the river.
April and
early May is the time to see the Herring and Smelt spawning by the
Baker Chocolate Dam in Lower Mills. The herring and smelt lay their eggs on the
sand and rocks on the river-bottom. They can lay from 30,000 to
100,000 eggs, each! Most of the eggs, and even the young fish that hatch, will
be eaten by predators such as larger fish and birds. Only a few will
survive to return to the Baker Chocolate Dam, to
spawn.
Next
time you visit the river, bring a net for catching "macroinvertebrates"
and a bucket. Macroinvertebrates are animals that you can see with
your bare eye and that lack a back-bone.
You can make a
"dip
net" by attaching a kitchen strainer to a long stick.
Once
you're by the water, fill the bucket with water from the river. This
is where you'll put the macroinvertebrates once you catch
them.
Make
sure that you're very careful with
these animals; they're fragile AND they need to be in the river
water in order to breathe and to live. Try not to touch them. Return
them to the water after you've looked at them.
Most of the
invertebrates you will find will be baby insects. Their bodies will change
shape as
they grow to be adults, and many will end up flying around in the
air! You might find baby dragonflies, darners, mayflies, midges
and mosquitoes, for example.
Other
invertebrates that you'll see will probably be young shellfish, like
clams. You may even find a leech or a crayfish!
Mammals
that live along the Neponset vary in size, from a White-footed mouse
that's 7 inches long, including its tail, to a Red fox that's 36 - 40
inches long.
Most
mammals are "nocturnal." Nocturnal animals are active at night. Although
you may not see them, you can find signs of them along the river
bank. Look for "scat" (droppings), scratch marks on trees, burrows, and
"tracks" (footprints).
Mammals
found along the Neponset include: Muskrats,
Raccoons, White-footed mice, River otters, and Harbor seals, among
many others.
Reptiles
and amphibians are "cold-blooded" animals. That means that
their body temperature changes with the outside temperature.
In winter, they
avoid freezing by hiding under water, mud, soil, or thick
layers of dead leaves.
Reptiles have scales, shields or plates on
their bodies. The Snapping turtle is a reptile. Snapping turtles stay under
the water except in June, when
they come out to lay eggs. Painted turtles, Milk snakes and Garter snakes
(with long, yellow stripes) are all reptiles. They like to warm-up by basking in
the sun.
What
does "amphibian" mean? "Amphibious"
is from the Greek word that means "Living a double life."
Most adult amphibians can live on land and and in the water. Amphibians
have moist skin that is very sensitive to pollution.
Neponset
River Watershed amphibians include frogs, like Bull frogs and Wood
frogs, and salamanders.
Birds
are attracted to rivers for many reasons. For example, birds may drink,
catch food, socialize, protect and teach their babies, and bathe,
in the water.
Birds may eat animals and plants in the river. Others may eat berries
and seeds along the river's banks, and others still may eat insects
from the air, water and ground.
