How do animals use the Mississippi river?

The Mississippi and the surrounding bluffs and floodplains provide food and shelter for migrating birds, unique fish, and remarkable mammals. Many species of birds summer here with many more species using the river and its forests and grasslands as stopovers during their epic migrations.

1. What animals live in the Mississippi River for kids?
2. What sea creatures are in the Mississippi River?
3. What is the wildlife in Mississippi?
4. Does the Mississippi river have sharks?
5. Can you swim in the Mississippi river?
6. What do we use the Mississippi river for?
7. What is one role that the Mississippi river plays?
8. Why is Mississippi River toxic?
9. Is it safe to eat catfish out of the Mississippi river?
10. Are there lobsters in the Mississippi river?
11. What animals live in rivers?
12. How deep is the Mississippi river?
13. Do river otters live in Mississippi?

What animals live in the Mississippi River for kids?

A few species of fish found in the Mississippi River are bass, bluegills, catfish, crappie and walleye. The Mississippi River is an important source of water for millions of people.

What sea creatures are in the Mississippi River?

The Upper Mississippi River is home to over 119 species of fish -- more species than are found in any of Wisconsin's inland lakes. Favorite sport fish include walleye, sauger, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, bluegill and crappies.

What is the wildlife in Mississippi?

A few of the most well-known wild animals living in Mississippi include American alligators, Mississippi kites, armadillos, bottlenose dolphins, southern flying squirrels, muskrats, and kingsnakes.

Does the Mississippi river have sharks?

Fossil records reveal bull sharks' past presence in the Mississippi River but not in its upper basin, meaning the behavior studied in 1937 and 1995 is relatively new for the species.

Can you swim in the Mississippi river?

He said the Mississippi is safe to swim and fish in, as long as people are safe about it. Showering after swimming in the river and wearing a life vest are recommended. "It's safe. In every river you're going to have a little bit of pollution and the Mississippi is no different," said Kean.

What do we use the Mississippi river for?

As the nation's second-longest river, behind only the conjoining Missouri, the Mississippi provides drinking water for millions and supports a $12.6 billion shipping industry, with 35,300 related jobs. It's one of the greatest water highways on earth, carrying commerce and food for the world.

What is one role that the Mississippi river plays?

Another reason the Mississippi River is important is that it is used as a drainage system. Thousands of rivers and streams drain extra water into the Mississippi, which helps prevent flooding and saves lives.

Why is Mississippi River toxic?

Bacteria, lead, toxic chemicals have plummeted since 1972

Long treated as a drain for Midwest farms, factories and cities, the river has coursed with a nasty mix of bacteria, lead and toxic chemicals.

Is it safe to eat catfish out of the Mississippi river?

“We don't have any advisories on the Mississippi. It's safe to eat the fish there,” says Langley. ... Langley says the Mississippi River “has such and immense volume” that it “would wash away just about anything.” So according to officials and experts, it is safe to eat that Mississippi River catfish.

Are there lobsters in the Mississippi river?

Shellfish. The crayfish is a type of freshwater lobster found in the Mississippi River from end to end.

What animals live in rivers?

Freshwater rivers are often home a wide variety of species from insects, to amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds and even mammals. Turtles, ducks, otters, crocodiles, catfish, dragonfly and crabs can be found in rivers all around the world, and the Amazon river is even home to the rare and pink, freshwater dolphin.

How deep is the Mississippi river?

It takes 90 days for a single drop of water to travel the Mississippi River's entire length. From its source, Lake Itasca, to its end, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River drops 1,475 feet. The deepest point on the Mississippi River is located near Algiers Point in New Orleans and is 200 feet in depth.

Do river otters live in Mississippi?

Introduction. North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) have returned from near extinction to urban stretches of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities. ... Their return to the Twin Cities is a success story for the Mississippi River, showing positive change in water quality and trapping regulations.