Pros and Cons of Backyard Ponds
Pros of backyard ponds:
- A water source for wildlife
- A food source for predators such as owls and herons
- An ecological ‘source’ of new individuals in populations of animals
- Homes for dragonflies and damselflies (which eat mosquitoes as larvae in the ponds and adults in flight)
- A way to teach adults and children about ecological interactions and conservation biology
- A way to interest children and adults in biology and ecology
- A source of experiments: What to do if the water turns green (or smelly)
- A teaching tool for adults and children on how to manage ecosystems small and large
Cons of backyard ponds:
- A water source for wildlife we might not like
- A food source for predators that we might not love, such as raccoons or small garter snakes
- An ecological ‘sink’ where individuals are attracted to live, but cannot be successful, depleting wildlife (if, for example, your cat catches every frog that comes to live in your pond)
- Homes for mosquitoes that breed in your ponds (if you don’t have fish or dragonfly larvae)
- A source of stress (having to deal with water that is green or smelly, or a mismanaged ecosystem)
- “Ponds gone wrong” – watch some great videos on the web….
Having your own backyard ponds can be a source of pleasure or frustration. But the more you know, the more likely it is that you can manage a pond with little effort, and gain a source of interest and pleasure.
