On February 16, we had a low temperature of minus 15 degrees. One week later the the ice and snow had disappeared and the high temperature was 72 degrees. In one week a temperature swing of 87 degrees. That is pretty amazing, but not out of the realm of possibilities in many places in our country. People who endure these conditions on a regular basis are considered to be rugged, survivalists, nature freaks or just plain tough.
But with all the clothing, insulation and other conveniences, we aren't all that unprepared, What really is amazing to me are the animals, birds and other critters which survive these conditions. Want to hear about our fish in the koi pond? When the water temperature dropped below 45 we stopped feeding the fish. When the air temperature went below freezing, the pond began to ice up, and as the temperature dropped lower and the snow came, the brook stopped flowing, the pond was totally frozen and the fish had not been fed in over two months. At 72 air temperature, the water was back flowing and the water temperature was only 45. I dropped a few pellets of fish food in the pond, but the fish ignored them. They were content to muddy the water and huddle together. Today with the water temperature above 50, they still didn't come to the food. There were no floating, belly up fish, and they seemed perfectly content with their environment and having survived a tough period. The only casualty in the pond was a tiny, tiny frog, belly up on the bottom.
We were told the fish were tough and didn't need any special treatment over the winter. Move over Jaws, Moby Dick and all you MMA and Ninja Warriors.........these gold fish and koi pond residents got you beat.
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