The Mississippi River valley contains a multitude of diverse flora and fauna including rare, threatened and endangered species. The Mississippi flyway is a vital migration corridor for roughly 40 percent of the nation’s migratory birds and waterfowl, while backwaters along the Mississippi River serve as critical areas of nesting, spawning, flood refuge and nursery habitat for both aquatic and terrestrial animals. A variety of wildlife habitats are contained within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) corridor. These provide food and shelter for about 50 species of mammals, 270 species of birds and 150 species of fish and over 25 species of mussels which reside in or travel through this corridor.

Within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, the river sees enormous numbers of migrating ducks, geese and warblers. Bald eagles flock to unfrozen sections of the river each winter, and many stay year-round with more than a dozen pairs nesting within the park. Herons, egrets and cormorants nest in several rookeries in the corridor and can regularly be seen fishing along the rivers edge. Over 200 species of fish are found along the length of the Mississippi, more than any other river system in North America. Some of the river’s fish have remained unchanged since the age of the dinosaurs. Today a trophy walleye fishery exists within the MNRRA, while the northern stretch boasts outstanding small mouth bass fishing. 

A variety of reptiles and amphibians inhabit this stretch of river. From the endangered Blanding’s Turtle to the fox snake, salamander and leopard frog, these populations are sensitive to changes in habitat quality and their populations can be significantly affected by chemical pollutants and atmospheric warming. A paddlers on the river will see turtles sunning on logs, as well as snakes warming themselves on rocky or sandy beaches. At night the sound of calling frogs can be heard in lowlands and floodplain forests. 

Mussels are an important indicator of river health, especially water quality. Once largely extirpated, water quality improvements in recent decades has resulted in the return of many native mussel species. One endangered species, the Higgins Eye, has been reintroduced to this area and has been successfully reproducing. Today this stretch of river, once nearly a dead zone, may serve as one of the last big river mussel refuges in the Midwestern United States.   

Mammals thrive in large numbers near the river. Whitetail deer, bats and raccoons are found throughout the river corridor, while other species such as river otter, beaver, and fox are found in scattered pockets within the corridor.  These animals have learned to adapt to expanding human encroachment into their spaces. Much of their remaining natural habitats exist as fragmented areas within an increasingly developed MNRRA corridor. Concern about loss of wildlife habitat and corridors within the MNRRA has resulted in a number of groups and agencies working to restore, expand and connect the remaining natural areas.