Tuesday night, I decided to wade up the middle of Spring Creek and follow it through the upper Arb from its mouth at Upper Lyman Lake to see what I could find. As soon as I had left the glow of Carleton’s streetlights, my phone flashlight began to illuminate a beautiful community of native fauna, caught in the act of enjoying the spring season.
As I waded through the icy water, I was struck by the number and diversity of fishes I found. White suckers lurked in the deepest bends and under overhanging trees, hard to miss in their striking black and orange springtime colors. Green sunfish laid motionless as my flashlight passed over their hiding spots behind rocks and logs, only moving once I was within inches of their emerald-spotted bodies. Creek chubs swam across the water’s surface with more bravado then they would ever display in the daytime, searching for struggling insects. A largemouth bass slowly cruised the shallows in search of a late-night meal.
As I walked onwards, a sudden rustling in the bushes to my right startled me out of my trance. A white-tailed deer walked down from the bank, scarcely fifteen feet in front of me. It waded out into the middle of the stream and drank, perfectly illuminated by the moon and the distant lights of Carleton buildings.
Just like many places in the Arb during April, Spring Creek was overflowing with amphibians. American toads, green frogs and American bullfrogs lined the banks, seeking refuge in the mud and overhanging vegetation. Somewhere in the distance, a gray treefrog was calling, struggling to be heard over the ringing cries of boreal chorus frogs. A leopard frog’s guttural snore periodically pierced the din, reminding me of my friends who chose sleep over accompanying me on my adventure.
These are only some of the wonders I found while exploring Spring Creek. I hope this arb note encourages you to take advantage of this wonderful time of year and go find something amazing! I promise that adventure and discovery are waiting for you, even if you are not quite sure where to look.
