Mississippi River, the fourth longest river in the world, is home to several species of mammals. Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are the three US states that are completely located in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Eleven other states, including fifty percent of Illinois, lie within its drainage basin. The southern states that lie along the banks of the Mississippi River include Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Thus, the animals that live on either side of the river have some specific needs due to the diverse environment.
The species that have adapted well to the changes faced in the Mississippi River include river otters, beavers, muskrats, deer, opossums, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats, river bats, mink, and skunks. The rodents, including mice, rats, and muskrats, inhabit burrows near the water body, which provides them with protection from predators. Additionally, the Mississippi River is often enriched with food resources, in the form of frogs and birds. River otters are widely found in Mississippi River as they feed on aquatic animals such as mussels and clams, which are native to the river.
Under the Endangered Species Act, four species of mammals living in the Mississippi River area are most vulnerable. These species include the Indiana bat, gray bat, pallid bat, and gray wolf. The gray wolf population has been in decline since the nineteenth century due to hunting, habitat development, and degradation of food sources in the river area. The Indiana bat and gray bat have also been struggling due to loss of habitat, degradation of water quality, and disruption of migration patterns.
Wildlife experts have recently suggested several strategies to ensure that the endangered species of mamm
