The main thing you probably want to know, given how Mama Nature has been behaving lately, is that yes, the beach is still there, all along the shore of Grand Traverse Bay. There are a lot of stones here and there, but we’ve all decided those add artistic interest, right? And the water is warming up a bit. I had to wade in to rinse the Cowboy off after he got into something and my feet didn’t even go numb.
The zebra mussels and quagga mussels are still there, too. Don’t rely on me to tell you the difference, but I gather that most of what we are seeing now are quaggas. Both of ’em eat fishfood. However, apparently over in Lake Huron the skinny whitefish have decided to try chowing down on the quaggas, and it’s working for them. See, this is my theory in action. The only way to deal with invasive species is to eat them. Bring on the Asian Carp recipes.
The Grand Rapids Press has decided to study the whole invasive species thing on the Great Lakes, and I believe you would find this story absorbing: What do Lake Michigan salmon, quagga mussels and rabbits in Great Britain have in common?
Torch Lake Views 
Scott Thomas Photography
May 13, 2011
Invasive species do a lot of damage to the environment. The tip the delicate balance which causes all kinds of havoc. The Zebra Mussels and Water Chestnut have created a mess in the rivers and lakes of NY and other Great Lake states.
Gerry
May 13, 2011
I do not disagree with you in principle, Scott. The question is, as always, what do we do about it?
Invasive species cause change, and whenever there is change in an ecosystem there are winners and losers on a short term basis, and perhaps different winners and losers on a long term basis. And that would be short/long term in human terms. I keep coming back to the fact that many, many of the plants that live here in Antrim County right now are non-native species that have been here for anywhere from 50-400 years. Are we going to try to get rid of all of them? If so what will the consequences be of that new set of changes?
I think the Lake Huron whitefish are wise. Quagga mussels are not their favorite food, but they are by golly better than starving to death.
P.j. grath
May 13, 2011
This is another coincidence, Gerry, as only this morning I was thinking it’s about time Sarah and I checked out the stony beach at Peterson Park. Rabbits? They multiply very fast?
Gerry
May 13, 2011
They are an invasive species in the UK, imported from, ulp, the US.
P.j. grath
May 13, 2011
And hey, what about those wild pigs moving north?
Gerry
May 13, 2011
Maybe they will eat the Africanized bees? Or maybe they will duke it out with the Asian Carp. That would be something to see.
Katherine
May 13, 2011
And possums aren’t supposed to be this far north either.
Gerry
May 13, 2011
Boy have a lot of them ever landed in the wrong place. Possums everywhere you look. They better not have scorpions trailing along behind them.
Margaret Learner
May 13, 2011
Gerry, aren’t most of us here some sort of invasive species? 🙂
Gerry
May 13, 2011
I would not be surprised to learn that I had been so classified. On the other hand, I do not eat the fish food and do not choke out vegetation, so I am perhaps a benevolent invasive.