Rare sighting: American Eel spotted in Mississippi River near Festus, MO

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., (KBSI) — The Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed the presence of eels in the state’s waters, thanks to a photo submitted by Steve Hite of Environmental Restoration, LLC.

The photo shows an eel caught and released Monday in the Mississippi River south of Plattin Creek, near Festus.

Interestingly, all eels found in Missouri are female. Female eels spend most of their adult lives in freshwater, while males reside in coastal estuaries.

Eels breed in the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda and are relatively rare in Missouri. However, they can occasionally be spotted in deep pools with cover, such as logs and boulders, in moderate to large streams and rivers.

For more information on eels, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation’s online Field Guide.