While we no longer own dogs or board horses, we are raising crustaceans. These pill bugs reside in our compost bin, where hordes of their young mingle with the adults.
Our duty is limited to filling the bin with vegetable, fruit and yard waste. This weekend, hosting family members for the Holiday, we produced a large amount of watermelon rind, a clear favorite of the pill bugs. Drawn to the hot, humid confines of the bin, these crustaceans are, in turn, agents of compost production.
Unlike pets that require expensive nutrition, vet care and occasional boarding, wild creatures are a bargain. This is especially true of invertebrates that engage in pollination or recycling; then again, they do not offer companionship or unconditional love.
