While everybody else's getting all worked up trying to prevent having, or dealing with a flooded basement, why don't we explore what interesting forms of life may actually exist in the waters of a flooded basement? Just think, water stagnating on the basement floor may possibly produce new additions to the world of living creatures as we know it. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here. The idea of finding new species of living things in our basement is terrifyingly tempting to pursue; but for now, let's start with the simpler, more common everyday animals around us.



First on the list are the naturally water-dwelling creatures, the fish. With over hundreds of thousands of fish species known as of latest count, would it not be possible that one or two may find its way into a flooded basement? Maybe not likely. But if they did, fish might even help preserve your flooded basement from becoming a total health hazard as some types of fish feed on water-bound mosquito larvae, thus drastically reducing or eliminating a mosquito population that may be starting right in one's own basement. As we all know, many deadly viruses are spread by mosquitoes such as malaria, yellow fever and the West Nile fever. In addition, fish also makes a mean meal, so how convenient it would be if we could actually fish in our own basement. Now that's certainly a thought.

Next are our cold-blooded amphibian friends, frogs and toads. These animals are known to enjoy their daily dip in the water as much as they also like to stay out of it for some time. So why not try having a short vacation in someone's flooded basement? The warm, somewhat murky waters could actually be a welcome change from their usual freshwater fare alongside rivers or lakes. Afterwards, they could rub down in any of the dry spots they can manage to find --- the stair steps, a couple of shoe boxes atop the bigger boxes, the old couch perhaps, anywhere will do because this is a whole new world for them to explore. Oh, and I'm quite sure they wouldn't mind the musty smell; it is after all, a small price to pay for the steady supply of mosquito dinners they are currently enjoying.

And then there are the scaly reptiles that might be lying in wait in our flooded basement. They do take to water too, you know. Personally, I wouldn't mind finding perhaps a turtle or two enjoying my indoor pool of sorts. Even members of the lizard family I could tolerate since I think most types are quite harmless. But the thought of snakes slithering somewhere along the basement walls or hanging about amongst all the tons of stuff usually stored in there, just gives me the creeps. And as though that weren't enough, add the possible presence of crocodiles and alligators, and you get one dangerous flooded basement.

Hey, somebody call the flood damage restoration service, quick!