Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish

The backwoods and lakeshores of Michigan are rife with reptiles and amphibians, including numerous varieties of toads, frogs, salamanders, and snakes. With so much water, fish thrive here, too, in both the Great Lakes and inland waters. Though commercial fishing has decreased dramatically in the last few decades (the result of overfishing, and the accidental introduction of the lamprey eel and zebra mussel), sportfishing remains popular on the Great Lakes, for chinook salmon, coho, steelhead, lake trout, and brown trout. On inland waters, the walleye and yellow perch are prized for flavor, while the muskie and northern pike are considered top sport fish. Bass and trout can also be found on inland waters. Michigan has several blue-ribbon streams, especially near Traverse City and Grayling [1] in the Lower Peninsula, and in the eastern U.P. [2]