Other Animals
Outside of Fish, Loons, other birds, Turtles, and various invasive species, there are many different species that call Horn Pond home!
Crustaceans & Crayfish
Eastern Ellipito
The Eastern Ellipito is a medium sized (reaching a length no longer than 5 inches) freshwater mussel that is native to the Eastern US. It’s shell various from a yellowish-brown to a dark brown or black, with light stripes. Its inner shell layer, called a narce, can be purple, rose, or white. To feed, it sticks part of its narce out of its shell and takes in water. It feeds on various plankton, algae, and bacteria. Any of these that are in the water it takes in are sent to the mouth, while the rest of the water is released. These mussels are eaten by raccoons, geese, ducks, and otters. On Horn Pond, there are thousands of these mussels.
Clearwater Crayfish
The Clearwater Crayfish is a small (1.5 inches long at most) crayfish that is native to the Northern Midwest, Vermont, and some parts of NH. On Horn Pond, The Clearwater Crayfish is debatably invasive as the lake is located just east of its natural range. This tiny species of crayfish has a dark abdomen and brownish legs and claws. It prefers to live under rocks on the bottom of ponds. It feeds on insects, algae, smaller crayfish, and aquatic vegetation. While these critters are hard to find on Horn Pond, you might find them hiding under the right stone in shallow rocky water.
Frogs, Snakes & Leechs
American Bullfrog
The American Bullfrog is a large frog that is native to eastern North America. It is known for the croaking sound the males make which sounds similar to that of a bull bellowing. It can grow up to 8 inches long, and ranges in color from olive-green to grayish-brown with a yellowish underbelly. Their diet consists of small rodents, other frogs and toads, crustaceans, worms, and insects. They fall prey to birds (especially herons), fish, and river otters. During reproduction, females can lay up to 30,000 eggs. Once hatched, the bullfrog exists for up to 3 years as a tadpole, living in shallow waters or small puddles and streams close to larger bodies of water. The American Bullfrog can live up to 10 years in the wild.
North American Medicinal Leech
The North American Medicinal Leech is a small species of leeches that is native to North America. It is flat and dark green in color, reaching lengths of up to 5 inches long. This species of leech has 5 eyes and almost 50 teeth. It feeds on the blood of its prey, being primarily fish, frogs, turtles, and some mammals.
While leeches do exist on Horn Pond, they are incredibly rare. They are most common in shallow, still waters that are relatively murky. These leeches do not carry diseases, but their bites may cause some pain. To avoid being bite, avoid still and murky waters and if you are bit, simply remove the leech as soon as possible.
Common Water Snake
The Common Water Snake is a large, nonvenomous species of snake that is native to North America. It can grow up to 4.5 feet long and is usually brown, gray, reddish, or black with dark bands on its neck and dark blotches on its body. It is harmless to humans and will not demonstrate aggressive behavior unless threatened. It feeds primarily on small fish, leeches, crayfish, frogs, insects, mammals, birds and minnows. The Common Water Snake will typically hunt day and night, spending some time basking in the sun on rocks or branches. It is preyed upon by snapping turtles, birds, larger snakes, and raccoons. If you see a Common Water Snake on Horn Pond, it might be difficult to prevent yourself from feeling scared. However, the snake is just as terrified of you as you are of it, so the best course of action is to just leave it be.
Beavers
The North American Beaver is a species of Beaver native to the North American continent. In Maine and New Hampshire, the most commonly found Beaver is the New England Beaver (a subspecies of the North American Beaver). This large rodent can weigh anywhere from 20 to 70 pounds when fully grown with a length of 29 to 35 inches. The beaver is semiaquatic, with webbed back paws, sharp claws for front paws, and a paddle-shaped tail. It has a variety of colors, although it is typically brown. Beavers are best known for their dam building, a feat which they undertake to ensure themselves living space, protection from predation, a hefty source of food, and deep water that does not freeze during the winter. Beavers are herbivores, eating a variety of aquatic and non-aquatic plants, nuts, and seeds. A beaver usually lives 10 to 12 years in the wild.
There have been beaver populations on Horn Pond in the past. Typically, the beavers will make their dam or embankments on the Northwestern-most area of the lake, near the Newichawannock Canal to Great East Lake. In recent years, there has been no beaver activity on Horn Pond. They are a welcome member of the ecosystem at any time, and if you happen to spot beavers on the lake remember to keep your distance and not disturb their habitat.
River Otters
The North American River Otter is a large species of freshwater otter that is native to North America. It can weigh up to 30 pounds and reaches a length of up to 5 feet. River Otters have long, muscular bodies with short legs, a flat tail, and a small head. These animals are known to be quite playful, commonly chasing or teasing each other. They make their homes in the form of burrows on the coast of lakes or rivers. Their most common form of food is fish, but they will also feed on mussels, aquatic plants, frogs, birds, and insects. While listed as a species of least concern, these animals are at risk from a variety of threats. In the past, their populations were greatly reduced due to human hunting and the pollution of water bodies. While their population has stabilized and somewhat rebounded in recent years, they are still very much at risk from human pollution of waterways.
Like Beavers, the River Otter has had populations on Horn Pond in the past, but there are no otters currently on the lake. However, within the last 10 years there have been confirmed sightings of otters. In fact, evidence of prior otter existence can be found in certain shallow parts of the lake where large collections of empty mussel shells are piled up underwater.
Insects
Mosquitos
The Mosquito is a small, air born insect that feeds on the blood of other animals. This species of insects lays its eggs in bodies of water is fed on by fish, bats, birds, and dragon flys.
In Maine, New Hampshire, and New England at large, there are over 50 species of Mosquitos. Horn Pond, being a body of water with many still inlets and shallow waters, is a prime territory for mosquitos. Typically, it is very uncommon for a mosquito species in New England to carry a disease. However, some mosquitos do carry the West Nile Virus, and the Equine Encephalitis.
Black Flies
Black Flys are small, black or grey, air born insects that feed on nectar or the blood of humans. They lay their eggs in running water, and the eggs subsequently attach themselves to rocks until they hatch. They are eaten by fish, birds, and other insects.
Unlike the Mosquito, the Black Fly is not known to carry any diseases that affect humans in the US. However, they are prevalent on Horn Pond just like Mosquitos due to the running water on the lake. They are most common on the Pond during the late spring and early summer.
Dragon Flies
The Dragon Fly is a flying species of predatory insects that are characterized by an elongated body, two clear wings, and large, multifaceted eyes. Like Mosquitos and Black Flies, Dragon Flies lay their eggs on the water. They feed on other insects, including mosquitos and butterflies. They are preyed upon by frogs, fish, and sometimes birds.
There are several species of Dragon Fly across Maine, New Hampshire, and New England at large. None pose a threat to humans in anyway.
