America's Mississippi

Meet the wildlife that depends on the river to survive, from raccoons gearing up for the winter to black bears awaking at the first hint of spring to the massive swarm of mayflies that live a lifetime in a summer day.

Nearly 700 miles south from where it begins, the Mississippi River bids farewell to Minnesota and enters America's heartland. Along the way, follow creatures of all sizes that depend on the river to survive, from wild turkeys to elusive bobcats.

Track the Mississippi River as it powers into the Deep South, through Cajun country, and finally the Gulf of Mexico. See how the water shapes the landscapes and how its inhabitants, great and small, adapt to life on the wild side.