The Underworld World Of A North Dakota Water Body

Swimming in Lakes and Rivers in North Dakota

Are you somebody who likes to swim in lakes and rivers in our state? I'm more of a wader than a swimmer, and these days I always have my swimming shoes on. After all, you never know what creepy crawly creature might be lurking in the depths below.

I came across a fascinating video from ND Wildlife and Landscapes on Facebook that really shows the diversity of aquatic life in our North Dakota water bodies. You will see what I mean when you watch the video below.

How Many Species Do You See?

There's a whole lot more going on down there than you might have thought. I know I was surprised, and I'm pretty well-versed in North Dakota wildlife. You are certainly swimming with a lot more than just the fish.

Some of the Creatures I Identified in the Video

The Western Painted Turtle, Walleye, Bluegill, Perch, Catfish, Common Carp, Creek Chubs, White Bass, a duck (not sure what type, you could only see his or hers bottom side) a River Otter, a Common Muskrat, and a couple of things I wouldn't want to run into while swimming in fear of losing an extremity, a Northern Pike, and a Snapping turtle.

Yeah, there's a lot going on down there. I'm sure ready for warmer weather and beach weather on the sandbar or a North Dakota lake. However, after watching that video, I think I will continue to wade in the water rather than swim. I like to be able to see what I'm stepping on, if you know what I mean.