What lives deep in the Great Lakes?

Deep in the Great Lakes live specialized, cold-water creatures like the siscowet lake trout, which preys on other deep dwellers, and the tiny deepwater sculpin, a key food source. Other inhabitants include the native kiyi (a deepwater cisco) and various invertebrates, while invasive species like the round goby and zebra mussels have significantly altered the deep ecosystems, impacting native fish.

What lives in the deepest part of the Great Lakes?

What Lives at the Bottom of the Great Lakes?

• The Opossum Shrimp. The opossum shrimp gets its name from a unique reproductive behavior, in which it carries its larvae inside itself like a marsupial. ...
• The Deepwater Cisco (Kiyi or Chubs) ...
• The Deepwater Sculpin. ...
• The Siscowet Lake Trout.

Why can't you swim in the Great Lakes?

Waves on the Great Lakes come in rapid succession, every 3-4 seconds on average in the summer. The repeated, relentless waves wear down swimmers. Based on an average period of 4 seconds, 225 waves will hit you over the course of swimming for 15 minutes.

Are there sharks in the 5 Great Lakes?

Sharks do not live in the Great Lakes, but many fishes are mostly drawn to this water body as their natural habitat. Intriguingly, these aquatic animals, to a large extent, seek to leverage the absence of sharks in the Great Lakes to make it a comfortable abode for themselves and their offspring.

Can alligators survive in the Great Lakes?

Although the Great Lakes are home to many aquatic animals, alligators are rarely found in freshwaters this far north. Alligators are known for inhabiting warmer waters and Lake Michigan is just simply too cold.

What’s so great about the Great Lakes? - Cheri Dobbs and Jennifer Gabrys

What is the biggest predator in the Great Lakes?

The largest predatory fish in the Great Lakes is the Muskellunge (Muskie), a top-tier predator and the biggest freshwater fish in the pike family, capable of growing very large, though invasive predators like the Sea Lamprey have significantly impacted native populations. Other major native predators include Lake Trout and Northern Pike, while Asian Carp pose a potential future threat.
 

Was the alligator in Lake Erie ever found?

Authorities, including the Erie Port Authority and a wildlife trapper, searched for the alligator for months but found no further trace. The alligator sighting garnered national media attention and sparked speculation about how it arrived in Lake Erie, with the most likely explanation being an abandoned pet.

What is the only major lake infested with sharks?

Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua

Bull sharks travel to Lake Nicaragua by jumping a series of rapids, a behavior that has not been seen in these sharks anywhere else in the world. Bull sharks travel up the San Juan River to Lake Nicaragua and sometimes spend years in the lake before returning to the Caribbean Ocean.

What is the largest fish in the Great Lakes?

The largest fish in the Great Lakes is the prehistoric Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), a "living fossil" that can grow over 7 feet long and weigh more than 200 pounds, known for its armored body, whiskered snout, and habit of jumping (porpoising). These ancient fish, considered the biggest and oldest native fish in the system, feed on bottom-dwelling creatures like worms, mussels, and crustaceans.
 

Could a bull shark get into the Great Lakes?

No, bull sharks don't live in the Great Lakes, despite rumors, because the frigid winters and physical barriers like dams and locks prevent them from naturally reaching the lakes from the ocean, even though they can survive in freshwater due to specialized kidneys. While they've been found far up rivers like the Mississippi (as far as Illinois), the Great Lakes system presents too many obstacles, and there's no established population, just occasional unverified sightings or hoaxes. 

What was found at the bottom of Lake Michigan?

Scientists from NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory have confirmed the presence of about 40 large circular depressions, likely sinkholes, on the floor of Lake Michigan.

Should you wear a tampon when swimming in a lake?

Though they may absorb some water, the tampon will still be absorbent to collect flow. Tampons should be inserted prior to entering the water and changed shortly after your time in the water is completed (or during a long break from the water).

What is the 80/20 rule in swimming?

The 80/20 rule in swimming, derived from the Pareto Principle, means training at a low intensity (Zone 1-2) about 80% of the time and a high intensity (Zone 4-5) for the remaining 20%, focusing on endurance and efficiency rather than constant hard efforts, which leads to better race-day performance by preventing burnout and improving aerobic base, with key focus areas often being balance, body alignment, and fundamental stroke mechanics.
 

What is the apex predator in Lake Superior?

The lake trout plays a vital role in the Lake Superior ecosystem. The lake trout has traditionally been considered an apex predator, which means that it has no predators.

Will a shark eat a remora?

Yes, sharks can eat remoras, but it's rare because they usually have a symbiotic relationship where remoras clean parasites and eat scraps, benefiting the shark with free transport and hygiene; however, species like Sandbar and Lemon sharks have been seen attacking them, especially when they're not attached or if the shark is hungry or confused.
 

What is the biggest living creature in the Great Lakes?

The biggest animal in the Great Lakes is the Lake Sturgeon, a massive, ancient fish that can grow over 7 feet long, weigh hundreds of pounds, and live for more than 100 years, making it the largest native freshwater fish in North America and a true "living fossil" of the region.
 

Do the Great Lakes freeze?

Yes, the Great Lakes freeze, but they rarely freeze completely due to their immense size, depth, and constant water movement from wind, though shallow Lake Erie freezes more often; ice cover varies greatly by winter, from significant coverage (over 90% in 2014) to near-zero (2002), impacting shipping and lake-effect snow.
 

Can you eat fish out of the Great Lakes?

Yes, you can eat fish from the Great Lakes, but you must follow state-specific advisories due to contaminants like mercury and PFAS, which vary by lake and species; it's generally safer to eat smaller, younger fish, trim fat and skin, and limit servings, especially for sensitive groups like pregnant women and children. 

Did they find Bethany's arm in the shark?

No, Bethany Hamilton's arm was not found in the shark; the arm was lost in the attack, and while fishermen later caught the tiger shark responsible, they found no trace of her arm inside it, likely because sharks regurgitate indigestible parts quickly, though the shark's jaws perfectly matched the bite on her surfboard. 

Has a great white ever been found in freshwater?

Yes, great white sharks have been spotted in freshwater rivers and lakes, though it's extremely rare and they can't survive long-term due to needing saltwater, with recent instances including a juvenile in Australia's Lake Conjola and reports of others in the Mississippi River, highlighting how they might follow prey into estuaries but aren't truly freshwater creatures like the adaptable bull shark.
 

What state has the most shark-infested waters?

Florida has the most sharks and the most shark attacks by a significant margin, earning it the title of "shark bite capital of the world," with Volusia County being a hotspot, though Hawaii and California also see many encounters, often involving great whites. While Florida leads in bites due to more people in the water and favorable conditions, it doesn't necessarily mean more sharks than elsewhere, but rather more interactions.
 

What is the biggest creature in Lake Erie?

Bessie is reported to be snake-like and 30 to 40 ft (9.1 to 12.2 m) long, at least a foot in diameter, with a grayish color.

Which U.S. states have crocodiles?

In the U.S., wild crocodiles are found almost exclusively in South Florida, particularly the Everglades and the Keys, where American Crocodiles coexist with alligators; rare sightings also occur near South Texas, but Florida is the primary native habitat, unlike alligators which range across the Southeast.
 

How much money do the Swamp People get per gator?

"Swamp People" hunters (and others) don't get paid per alligator by the state but earn money selling hides and meat, with prices varying by quality/size (e.g., $10-$75+ per foot for hide). Florida's nuisance trappers get a low state stipend ($30/gator) plus sales, but the market is tough; hunters on the show earn significantly more, possibly $10k-$25k per episode, through their TV contracts, not just gator sales.