One Year Ago I Built a 5 Acre Pond – Here’s What Happened
🏞️ See the real results after building a 5-acre pond — lessons learned, costs, maintenance, and surprises along the way.
Building a 5-acre pond sounds like a dream project — and for the folks at Crimson Oak Farm, it turned out to be much more than just a pond. What began as a simple water and fish habitat turned into a thriving wildlife ecosystem, attracting everything from deer and ducks to bald eagles and even rare black coyotes.
Let’s explore what truly happened one year after building this incredible pond — and how it changed the land forever.
🌱 From Peanut Field to a 5-Acre Pond
The project began on a 60-acre peanut field and took about four months to complete. The team hauled in clay to line the pond and constructed a strong dam to hold water efficiently.
An underground well pumped 100 gallons per minute, and after 50 days — with a little help from rainfall — the pond was completely filled.
They even added a small island in the middle, designed for birds and ducks to use as a safe resting spot away from predators.
🦆 A New Home for Wildlife
What surprised everyone most wasn’t just the beauty of the pond — it was how fast wildlife appeared. Deer, ducks, owls, foxes, squirrels, coyotes, and even bald eagles started visiting daily.
“One of the coolest parts about having this pond is it brought all the wildlife out of the woods and into the open for us to see,”
said the pond owner.
They also began planting sunflowers, millet, sorghum, corn, and soybeans around the pond, providing food sources that kept animals coming year-round.
🦅 A Family of Bald Eagles Moves In
Among the most exciting events was the arrival of a family of bald eagles — a male, female, and juvenile. They hunted fish and often perched near the pond’s feeders.
To welcome them, the team built a 40-foot eagle nesting tower, giving the eagles a perfect view of their new territory.
🦉 The Night Belongs to the Owls
Not all the pond’s residents were daytime visitors. Night cameras revealed that most activity happened after dark.
Two owls, humorously named Hooter and Al Capone, became regulars, hunting field mice at night and using a custom-built owl house. Their playful dirt baths and nightly hunts quickly made them viewer favorites.
🐿️ Foxy the Squirrel and the Peanut Picnic Table
Another local star was Foxy, a curious fox squirrel who spent hours gathering peanuts. The team even built a tiny picnic table for him — though it took days for him to find it! His appearances added humor and warmth to the pond’s growing wildlife story.
🐾 Predators and Balance in Nature
Where there’s life, there are predators. The pond saw regular visits from bobcats, coyotes, and skunks — each playing their role in nature’s balance.
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Coyotes helped control field mice populations.
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Bobcats hunted birds and small animals.
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Pepe Le Pew, a fearless skunk, was often seen chasing off animals twice his size.
Even with predators around, the wildlife community learned to coexist — a perfect picture of nature’s rhythm.
🦆 Romeo the Duck – The Pond’s Personality
A standout character, Romeo the Duck, entertained everyone. Unlike other ducks that flew off at night, Romeo stayed by his favorite decoy, fearlessly dodging owls and showing off his courage.
His confidence made him a symbol of the pond’s thriving, fearless spirit.
🦌 Deer, Geese, and Family Life at the Pond
The pond also became a safe haven for white-tailed deer, geese, and wild pigs. One doe even gave birth to triplet fawns, a rare event captured on camera.
The animals’ comfort around humans showed that this man-made habitat had become a genuine home.
🌳 Creating a Lasting Habitat
To ensure the pond remains sustainable, the team planted over 2,000 longleaf pine trees, fruit trees, and cypress around the area — building a self-sustaining ecosystem for future generations of wildlife.
💡 Lessons from the 5-Acre Pond Project
The Crimson Oak Pond shows that developing rural land can be both beautiful and beneficial — for humans and for nature.
By combining smart planning, patience, and respect for wildlife, any landowner can create a lasting, eco-friendly environment.