The Mississippi river is immense; it’s the longest river in North America, measuring 2,350 miles in length. So when it comes to deer having the potential to swim across such a long stretch of water, it raises the question of whether deer can actually swim.
Though it is possible for deer to swim, they are not natural swimmers like other animals such as beavers, ducks, and otters. Compared to other animals, deer lack webbed feet, as well as access to holding onto tree branches and other limbs in the water. As they can’t physically swim, it’s likely that they stumble along the water’s surface and paddle till they reach to the other side.
It’s possible that deer swim across the Mississippi river with the help of the river’s current, but there’s no definitive scientific answer on whether deer ever actively choose to swim across this dangerous river.
Studies show that deer can survive some truly grueling and extreme distances when it comes to swimming. There’s a case of a deer that somehow made it from one Florida Keys island to another island, transported by the Gulf Stream current. So, if the current is strong enough and the deer is desperate enough, it is possible.
In the words of Dr. John Carlson, a deer expert and wildlife ecologist, “To swim across the Mississippi river, deer would not only need to overcome their natural instincts, they also have to have the physical ability to break through the challenging undertow and strong river current to get to the other side. It’s possible, but not likely.”
Knowing deer instincts, they usually don’t take on such a huge risk unless they feel a dire need to. Often times deer try to swim across lakes and slower rivers they get unreasonably stuck in. But when it comes to such a powerful body of water as the Mississippi river, it’s very unlikely that deer would choose to risk their lives crossing it.
At the same time, there’s no actual evidence to disprove the fact that deer swim across Mississippi river either due to the sheer size and depth being hard to monitor.
Understanding the Nature of Deer
Unlike humans who think logically and rationally, when it comes to survival the deer’s decisions are based on instinct. Therefore, due to this overwhelming fear of danger, the odds of a deer willingly swimming across the Mississippi river are minimal.
The Mississippi river is home to a wide range of bird species, otters, beavers, frogs and other aquatic species, which find it easier to survive there due to their natural ability to swim. Therefore, the elements in the Mississippi can be intimidating and dangerous for an aquatic species like a deer.
In contrast, deer are in their comfort zone when there’s land at their feet and vegetation to hide in. Given deer natural inclination towards land environments, swimming across the Mississippi is far more challenging than the deer will ever find crossing across land based environments. In other words, the deer’s natural instinct for survival is to stay on land, rather than take on unexpected water currents and elements.
In times of migration, some deer try and cross large bodies of water like the Mississippi. But generally these crossings can be fatal, as they lack good swimming muscles, protection against potentially dangerous weather conditions and lack knowledge of the treacherous undertows and currents.
The Stealthiness of Deer
Deer have adapted to survive in all sorts of environments, from lands to mountains and forests, which is why they can stay undetected for long periods of time. Being very stealthy and agile, deer easily try to sneak past or avoid danger and come out unscathed.
This high level of stealthiness makes it even harder to believe that deer can willingly or rationally decide to cross the Mississippi river, as that would require them swimming in the open and vulnerable to being spotted. Being creatures of nature, deer will use every advantage that nature has provided them to survive in this wild and unpredictable world.
Additionally, deer have a great sense of smell, and can easily identify their mates and predators, steering clear of any potential danger. As such, deer instinctively know when they can cross over an area, avoiding open spaces and water surfaces, while finding a better, safer path away from trouble.
Given their behavior patterns and the size and ferocity of the Mississippi river, it’s exceptionally unlikely that deer swim across the body of water unless they have no other choice.
The Challenges of Crossing the Mississippi
While crossing the Mississippi river can be a great opportunity for some species, it can be a risky endeavor for a deer. It is true that some hardy species do undertake some long and risky swims, such as sharks and whales. However, deer are not creatures of strength for swimming vast bodies of water.
The Mississippi river is known for its strong undercurrents, and this undeniable fact is something that deer will not be used to. As deer try to get across infested areas, the undercurrents can be overwhelming and potentially — deadly. Coupled with the lack of limbs and strength, it’s nearly impossible for deer not to get dragged away by the currents while crossing. Thus, this makes it even harder for them to cross the vast and treacherous Mississippi river.
The length of the Mississippi river further compounds the problem deer face in crossing it. As human beings, it’s hard to fathom anything swimming across 2,350 miles, let alone deer who have limited muscles and limbs. While nothing is impossible, deer attempting to cross such an immense body of water is an incredibly rare sight at best.
It’s not only the lack of empowerment that the Mississippi river poses for deer, but also its insanely deep waters, which make it even harder for deer to make it across the other side. In life or death situations, deer may scramble their way across land and climb up cliffs, but with Mississippi river, their limited muscles and limbs may not be enough for them to make it across.
The Mississippi river also experiences tidal movement that can be challenging for deer. The relatively shallowest areas where deer can cross the Mississippi from shore to shore may still be at a depth that they cannot handle while they attempt to cross. And with the unpredictable tides and water levels, deer can get swept away in an instant. They won’t have the ability to navigate their way through the river and make it to the other side like otters and other aquatic animals can.
Overall, given the mighty power of the Mississippi river, it’s quite hard to fathom deer crossing through it and finding a safe haven. Even if some deer do come across the river, it is safe to assume that they are more likely to be traumatized rather than reach the opposite shore unharmed.
Social Behavior of Deer
In general, deer are considered to be very social creatures and are often found in herds. This implies that deer will often travel in groups, and thus crossing a difficult area like the Mississippi river may be even harder in such a case. Deer are known to communicate with each other, so if one feels threatened or uncomfortable, chances are the others around maybe alerted and possibly, deterred from crossing.
In some cases, mother/father-baby deer teams are spotted as well where the parent tries to protect her/his baby deer. This implies that a so-called “stronger” swimmer may try and cross the Mississippi, whereas the others in the herd will likely stay back, understanding the risk that such a venture entails.
Also, deer have a natural fear of humans and human activity. With such an immense river as the Mississippi, the chances of them coming across human activity increase significantly. This, again, discourages the deer form crossing and instead, steer them towards safer paths where humans may not be present.
The Reality of Deer Across the Mississippi
At the end of the day, it’s quite natural to wonder and debate whether deer swim across the Mississippi river, while truly understanding the consequences that come with such a daring deed.
It’s important to realize that while deer can and do swim, taking such a daring step and crossing the Mississippi river is a huge risk, one that comes with a lot of unpleasant outcomes. Therefore, the chances of deer swimming across the Mississippi river are very less, if not non-existent.
Other Inhabitants of the Mississippi
Other than deer, the Mississippi river is home to a wide range of different species and vegetation. So, while deer may not prefer to cross, other species choose to thrive in such an environ.
Due to the abundant supply of food and resources around the river banks, the Mississippi river is home to a wide range of birds and other aquatic species. From ducks to beavers, otters and other species, it is possible to spot them in and around the river, such that some of them even live in riverside burrows and nest. For these species, the Mississippi river is an ideal home, where they can score an abundance of food, build their homes and replicate.
All of that being said, it’s possible that you may spot some deer in the outskirts of the Mississippi river, though it is highly unlikely that they cross the river itself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while deer can swim, their instincts and physical ability make it disadvantageous to attempt anything of such an immense scale like swimming across the Mississippi river. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that any deer will be brave enough or even aware of what it takes to cross such a huge body of water.
