Large snapping turtles sun on the sandy banks. The occasional water snake will scurry across the water seeking a meal. Fish will smack the water as they go airborne after insects. . Ducks, geese, egrets, and large blue heron make the river their home. Large fish, usually carp, splash in the shallows.
Little creatures live amongst the many wild flowers which bloom most of the spring and summer.
Expect to see monarch butterflies in the fall. Wild deer and big Canadian geese visit the islands, often at night. Check for tracks along the shore. . On a windless day paddling is easy and the trees make colorful reflections in the still water. On windy days, expect to work hard fighting the prevailing west wind.