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A compost pile can harbor many things besides earthworms and microorganisms.
In our "We Asked, You Answered" column, we asked "What's the strangest thing you've found in your compost pile?" This question generated so many letters from our readers that we couldn't publish them all in the magazine. Here are more of the entertaining responses we received. If you have found something strange in your compost you would like us to know about, please write us at og@rodale.com.
All creatures great and small When my two oldest daughters and I were out working in the yard, I was tossing yard debris into the compost pile when I noticed a turning and churning that was not of my own making. We scrunched down and watched in awe as out crawled an enormous and very cranky snapping turtle. "Mary," as my girls named her, spent an afternoon in our bathtub as an impromptu nature observation, and then we placed her back in the pile. I still don't know where she came from or where she eventually returned.
Maria McNamara St. Paul, Minnesota
The strangest thing I ever found in my compost was a big grizzly bear trying to find something tasty to dine on. I live in a small village in the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, where brown bears abound. Although I only compost vegetable and garden scraps and seaweed, the grizzly decided to make sure there was nothing of interest to him. He ran off when I yelled at him and has not returned. Guess he didn't like my cooking!
Joan McBeen Tenakee Springs, Alaska
I tend to leave my compost pile undisturbed for a season or two before putting the compost on my garden. I was digging out the bottom of my pile one spring when I uncovered two spotted salamanders. I decided to take a break until the next day, when they were gone. Now, they may not be the same, but two salamanders also showed up in the sump hole of our basement a couple of winters later. My kids were fascinated.
Sheila Linderman Dansville, Michigan
I would find my compost pile flattened out each morning, and every day I would reassemble it with my tractor. The next morning, it would be spread out flat again. Creating the pile was no small task, as our compost pile was more than 6 feet tall and many yards around. After about 10 days of this constant flattening out and restacking, I found my culprit. Our compost was being visited each night by a big grizzly bear who loved rolling around in it and sleeping there for awhile before he began biting holes in my water line. It was a welcome break when fall came, bringing with it hibernation time.
Bob Andrews Haines, Alaska
A few days ago, I took off the top of my composter and who should I see staring at me but a wood rat! We were both surprised. He squeaked and dove into a hole. I hastily dropped the lid. Now I open it carefully and whistle as I approach it. I think he (she?) is after my red worms.
Margery Eriksson Berkeley, California
I was turning my compost pile with a pitchfork, paying more attention to my girlfriend, who was standing by, than to the work. Next thing I knew, I had scooped up a black snake some 5 feet long and flipped it onto the new pile, apparently uninjured. Not sure who was more surprised.
Don Doumakes Via e-mail
While weeding in my garden one day, I heard a strange noise. Looking up, I saw a large deer on top of my 4-foot compost pile eating the melon rind we had put in there. Strange dining table.
Dorothy Walterick Jacksonville, Oregon
