Is it safe to swim in the Mississippi River?

Is it safe to swim in the Mississippi River?

There are always unknown hazards in the Mississippi river due to bacteria levels according to Stuart Schmitz, a toxicologist at the Iowa Department of Public Health. ... He said the Mississippi is safe to swim and fish in, as long as people are safe about it.

Do alligators live in Mississippi?

We recently estimated that there are 32,000-38,000 alligators and about 408,000 acres of alligator habitat in Mississippi. ... We estimate that there are about 7500 alligators in Jackson County, or about 24% of all of the alligators in the state.

Where are alligators in Mississippi?

Alligators may be found all across Mississippi. They are most prevalent in the southern two-thirds of the state (south of Hwy 82).

What is wrong with the Mississippi River?

It is also a river at risk. The Mississippi River and its tributaries have been plagued by nutrient runoff, specifically excess nitrogen and phosphorous. ... All of that nitrogen and phosphorous runoff ultimately ends up in the Gulf of Mexico, triggering rapid overgrowth of algae.

Are there sharks in the Mississippi River?

Believe it or not, sharks are no stranger to the freshwaters of the Mississippi River, even as far north as Illinois! In 1937, two fishermen caught a five-foot-long bull shark in Alton, Illinois. Just ask the residents of Alton, Illinois located north of St. Louis.

Why is the Mississippi River so toxic?

The Mississippi River doesn't have the cleanest reputation. 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.

What lives 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. The National Park Service routinely conducts studies to monitor and evaluate animal populations.

What do you do if you see a gator?

Do - call your TPWD regional office if you encounter a nuisance gator that has lost its fear of people. Don't - allow small children to play by themselves in or around water. Do - closely supervise children when playing in or around water. Don't - swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators most actively feed.

Which state has the most alligators?

Range and Habitat Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populations—there are more than one million wild alligators in each state.

Why is Mississippi River so toxic?

The Mississippi River doesn't have the cleanest reputation. 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.

What living conditions do alligators live in?

• Alligators primarily inhabit freshwater swamps and marshes and can also be found in rivers, lakes, and smaller bodies of water . They can tolerate a reasonable degree of salinity for short periods of time and are occasionally found in brackish water around mangrove swamps even though they lack the salt-secreting glands present in crocodiles.

Do alligators need to live in the water?

• Alligators prefer living in fresh water lakes and slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands. In Alabama, they are commonly found near the coastal area.

Do alligaters live in grasslands?

• The grasslands of the African Savanna are home to a wide variety of reptiles, from snakes to lizards and crocodiles, but there are no alligators there only crocodiles. The two crocodile species you can find over there are the Nile crocodile and the African dwarf crocodile, which are a fun-sized version of a big croc being only 6 feet large.

How many alligators live in Mississippi?

• From the survey data and satellite imagery to identify alligator habitat, we have developed a fairly clear picture of the distribution of alligators and alligator habitat in Mississippi. We recently estimated that there are 32,000-38,000 alligators and about 408,000 acres of alligator habitat in Mississippi.