Imagine strolling by a serene pond in your backyard or a beautifully maintained lake, bread in hand, ready to feed the ducks. It seems harmless, even enjoyable — but did you know that this simple act can have devastating consequences for both the ducks and the pond itself? This article examines the hidden dangers of …
Brackish water environments, the least understood and replicated biotopes, offer a tremendous opportunity for pond builders to expand their business. Unfortunately, these dynamic zones have a reputation for being dreary and mucky. In nature, brackish water tidepools and backwater areas are turbid — but so are most of the rivers and streams from which our …
After a two-year quarantine period, the turtles finally have their own new habitat! The turtles’ owners sold their house, and over the last two years of construction on the new home, their fish and turtles were living in my quarantine facilities. At the old house, the turtles lived in the koi pond. However, this time …
As outside temperatures move from the sublime to the ridiculous, more people will be spending time in and around their pools and ponds. Hazards such as drowning are frequently addressed in the media. However, there is another potential danger to people working and playing outside: bites from venomous snakes. A primer on snakes and snake …
The benefits of place-based learning Thanks to millions of years of the evolution of our species, humans are innately drawn to aquatic environments. Every major civilization this world has ever seen has relied on water for sustenance, agriculture, protection, transportation, economics and the survival of its people. Our pre-human australopithecine ancestors were aquaphiles, too — …
Every time I am contacted for help on a project that involves an animal exhibit—bears, moose, ostriches, big cats, alligators—I get a bit excited. It’s probably the kid inside me who grew up in the country trying to catch any critter I could get my hands on. (Who knew porcupines could climb trees?) My parents …
Water Feature Construction for Exotic Animal Habitats Read More »
When we started Backyard Getaway in 2004, we knew we wanted our business to be community minded. Giving back and helping local nonprofits was important to us. We held yearly pond tour fundraisers and hosted moonlight socials to benefit our favorite nonprofits. >> See the related sidebar to this feature article, “Exotic Animals’ Home Away …
Exotic Animal Sanctuary Gets Duck and Turtle Pond Read More »
A regulation dog-jumping pond — what even is that? I certainly knew nothing about until I happened upon this opportunity by chance. My neighbor who sold us our German Shepherd posted on social media that she had ordered an above-ground pool so that she could offer dog jumping to her boarding clients and possibly host …
The act of pond keeping is a powerful thing, with an appeal that is broad and deep. Pond keeping can mean many different things to as many different pond keepers. We all have our own reasons for keeping a pond. As a pond professional, I tend to lean toward the romantic side of ponds when …
Water gardening and the entire experience of having one can become a passion, if not an obsession. It can consume a person’s thinking to the point that some non-water gardeners might question the person’s sanity. (To be clear, we who have this passion would never question it!) So, what makes the hobby so pleasurable? For …