Eagle Creek Reservoir is home to bluegill, catfish, carp, largemouth bass, and many other species, making it a favorite destination for fishing (fishing is permitted in the park with a valid state fishing license).  Other reservoir residents include common snapping turtles and softshell turtles, muskrat, mink, and beaver, bald eagles and osprey (no nesting pairs as of spring 2010, although they may nest in the future), along with loons, coots, grebes, cormorants, great blue herons, gulls, mergansers, bufflehead, pintail, mallard, ring-necked ducks and other waterfowl.  The nonvenomous northern water snake is another resident - don't worry, as long as you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone!  The Coffer Dam Trail at the north end of the park is a great place to get right out by the water to fish, hike, or birdwatch and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

 

Smaller ponds and wetland areas scattered throughout the park provide habitat for eight species of frogs, as well as smallmouth salamander larvae, painted turtles and red-eared sliders, bitterns, kingfishers, herons, red-winged blackbirds, dragonflies and damselfies, snails, crawdads, fairy shrimp, and other aquatic invertebrates.  Lilly Lake is another popular fishing spot, while the Ecology Pond is a great place to find basking turtles in spring and summer, and the Ice Skating Ponds are perfect for enjoying the springtime frog chorus.