Once considered an endangered species in the late 1960s, American Alligators have made a big comeback in the swampy marsh areas surrounding the Mississippi River. It is estimated that there are just over 30,000 alligators in Mississippi, with most centralized in the southern portion of the state.
How many alligators are in the Mississippi river?
Among the ten states through which the Mississippi River flows, Mississippi and Louisiana are the only ones that have alligators. Approximately 30,000 alligators are thought to still exist in Mississippi today, with the majority concentrated in the southern part of the state and 2 million in Louisiana.
Can you swim in the Mississippi river?
Current Status and Research. Stretches of the Mississippi River within the park corridor exceed water quality standards for mercury, bacteria, sediment, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), and nutrients. Unfortunately, these “impairments” can make the water unsuitable for fishing, swimming, and drinking.
What animals swim in the Mississippi river?
More than 120 species of fish make their home in the river, along with recovering mussel populations. Otters, coyotes, deer, beaver and muskrats and other mammals live along the river’s banks.
Are there alligators in the Mississippi river in Memphis?
Alligators have been seen in recent years in the Mississippi, Wolf, and Loosahatchie rivers but are more common in the latter two, according to Tweed. They have also been spotted in McKellar Lake.
Is there a bull shark in the Mississippi River?
The short answer is yes. Over the last century, researchers have documented at least two bull shark sightings in the Mississippi River. One in Alton, Illinois, in 1937, and another in Saint Louis, Missouri, near Rush Island Power Station in 1995; both are exceptionally rare.
What lives at the bottom of the Mississippi River?
Mussels, perch, crayfish, and phytoplankton live at the bottom of the Mississippi River. Perch, mussels, crayfish, phytoplankton, and many other fish and crustaceans live at the bottom of the Mississippi River. The water depth varies depending on where the river flows, but the average depth is 3 to 12 feet (3.66 m).
Why dont people swim in the Mississippi River?
While it might be safe for a quick dip, swimming in the Mississippi River is generally not recommended due to its high levels of pollution.
Is the Mississippi River deep?
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.
Can you drink water from the Mississippi River?
The Mississippi River’s treated drinking water is actually safe and delicious, thanks to the fantastic work of public utilities. But it’s only safe to drink provided that you don’t drink straight from the river, of course. The Mississippi River provides nearly 18 million people with drinking water.
What is the deadliest animal in the state of Mississippi?
Venomous strike
In Mississippi, venomous species include the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, cottonmouth, coral snake and the most common, the copperhead. A bite from a venomous snake can be painful at best and even cause death.
What is the largest animal in the Mississippi River?
The Pearl and Pascagoula rivers are the breeding grounds for what is likely the largest fish that swims in Mississippi freshwater: the Gulf sturgeon.
How far up the Mississippi do alligators go?
Alligators can be found in every county of the state, but southeast Mississippi reigns king. Twenty-five percent of the alligator population in Mississippi is found Jackson County and the Pascagoula River drainage system.
Do alligators live in Kentucky?
“Kentucky Fish and Wildlife occasionally receives reports of alligators and caimans in state waterways,” Officer Clark said.
Is there any alligators in Tennessee?
Alligators are naturally expanding their range into Tennessee from the southern border states. TWRA has not stocked any alligators in Tennessee.
Can alligators survive in Tennessee?
“Alligators can survive Tennessee winters by going into a hibernation-like dormancy called brumation. They can withstand periods of ice by sticking their snout out of the water before it freezes which allows them to continue breathing.”
Has anyone ever been attacked by a shark in the Mississippi river?
According to a database on the website Shark Attack Data, there are three unprovoked shark attacks on record in Mississippi. The earliest on record happened in January 1879 when a man was fatally attacked after the boat he was in capsized. In July 1906 a swimmer in Bay St. Louis was fatally attacked.
How long would it take to kayak down the Mississippi river?
3- 4 months
It would take 3- 4 months to paddle the Mississippi River in a kayak. The quick answer to this question is 3 to 4 months. If the river is 2,340 miles and you paddle at 4 miles an hour, you’d be paddling for about 585 hours.
How far up the Mississippi river has a bull shark been spotted?
It examines two known reported sightings of bull sharks: a 1937 incident in Alton, Illinois, located just north of St. Louis, and another in 1995 near Rush Island, Missouri.
What’s the biggest fish in the Mississippi River?
Gulf Sturgeon
1) Gulf Sturgeon
The biggest fish in the Mississippi River is the Gulf sturgeon. Gulf sturgeons are a sub-species of the Atlantic sturgeon and can be found in both freshwater and saltwater, depending on the time of year. Gulf sturgeons look like armored tanks!
Why is the Mississippi River so dirty?
But the river is polluted with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer runoff from Iowa and other farm states, contributing to a massive dead zone that’s unable to support aquatic life in the Gulf of Mexico. Last year, the dead zone was about the size of Hawaii.