Due to an incubator malfunction, only one white Peking duckling survived. The North Pond is just entering construction. The site is a swale and initial excavation yielded road quality gravel and a rapid water recharge rate. Pond discharge will be tied to a spring that lies farther to the west, and already feeds the stream that empties into Only's Pond. The North Pond will be used for irrigation and as a wildlife habitat.
Most varieties cause little damage and prefer to stay in the farm's various natural sanctuaries.
However, white tail deer are a major problem. After experimentation with solar electric fencing and deer repellents, which produced only marginal results, the farm's management came across a study done at the University of Missouri using dogs confined by radio fencing to protect crops. The wire transmits a signal that activates a mild shock from a collar worn by a dog, if the dog approaches the wire. Initial results were encouraging. The farm's dog, a pit bull named Peggy, was fitted with a radio collar and put to work.