Acorn Crew: Water Wonders
By Clara Wodny on July 23, 2024 in Blog
Do you enjoy splashing in creeks, floating in the river, or going to the beach? You’re not the only one! Next time you’re by water, keep an eye out for some of Iowa’s native animals that live in aquatic habitats and take our Water Wonders Bingo with you!
What are Iowa’s Aquatic Habitats?
Any area where this a significant accumulation of water will likely harbor some kind of wildlife. Some examples include rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, and even roadside ditches or large puddles! All of Iowa’s water is freshwater.
Some aquatic animals will live in any of these bodies of water, while others prefer a more specific environment. Rivers and streams are examples of running water that flows from one point to another, while ponds and lakes are mostly still. Still water absorbs more heat from the sun than running water does, and thus will typically be somewhat warmer, which can affect which wildlife live there.
Here are just a few examples of aquatic life you can find in Iowa.
Frogs
Iowa is home to 17 different species of frogs!
All frogs begin their lives in the water. Frog eggs are laid in a variety of aquatic environments. When they hatch, they produce tadpoles that are fully aquatic until they go through metamorphosis. Some frog species, like bullfrogs, will continue to spend most of their lives in rivers, streams and lakes as adults. Others prefer to split their time between water and land. Treefrogs live in wooded areas that are near permanent bodies of water— you might find them in trees or under loose bark in wet, marshy areas. Spring peepers lay their eggs in ponds but prefer living in trees that are near streams.
Any standing body of water—even large puddles—are great places to look for tadpoles and frogs. If you don’t see any, try being really quiet. You might hear their croaks! Learn more how to identify them by sight and sound here.
Salamanders
Salamanders, like frogs, are amphibians that lay their eggs in the water and split their time between land and water as adults.
The tiger salamander, which is common in Iowa, is the largest salamander found on land. They can grow to nearly a foot long! They can be found in nearly any still body of water in Iowa. This means you’re likely to see them in ponds, lakes, or roadside ditches, but not rivers or streams.
Fish
There are 148 species of fish that live in Iowa, of all different shapes, sizes, and colors.
The Iowa Darter is the only species of fish named after Iowa. Iowa darters are slender and small, about 2 ½ inches long and are quite colorful- bright green with dark brown and red spots and a belly that fades to gold and white. They live in clear streams and weedy areas of lakes, marshes and ponds.
Another very common Iowa fish is the Freshwater Drum, a silvery colored fish whose head and body slope steeply, resulting in a hump-backed look. They can weigh up to 5 pounds and are found in shallow or muddy areas of lakes and reservoirs that are at least 30 feet deep.
Otters
Did you know you can see otters in the wild in Iowa? It’s true! The North American river otter is native to Iowa, although there was a period of over 50 years where they nearly disappeared.
In 1929, hardly any otters could be found in Iowa thanks to hunting practices and the draining of vital wetlands and marshes to be used as farmland. After restoration efforts, improved hunting practices and the reintroduction of otters, the population is now thriving.
Otters aren’t always the easiest to spot, but it is possible. They tend to be more active in the evenings and during the night and can be found in a variety of aquatic habitats including rivers and lakes.
Beavers
Another mammal found in Iowa’s waters is the beaver. Beavers aren’t terribly picky about where they live, as long as there is water. You can find them in streams, ponds, lakes, drainage ditches, and backwaters.
Beavers have waterproof brown hair, a hairless tail that is flattened and looks like a paddle and webbed back feet that help them swim. Perhaps their most distinct feature is their two large front teeth, that allow them to gnaw through trees and build damns and lodges (complete with an underwater entrance!). To learn more about beavers, check out the 2024 Midwest Beaver Summit!
What else can you find?
There are many more aquatic animals—and plants—that call Iowa home. Next time you come across a stream, pond, lake, or any other body of water, use our Water Wonders Bingo to help keep track of everything you discover. Happy exploring!