The American Eel can be found in all fresh water, estuaries and coastal waters that are accessible to the Atlantic Ocean, from Niagara Falls in the Great Lakes up to the mid- Labrador coast in Canada. In Ontario, the distribution goes as far as Niagara Falls and the headwaters of the Ottawa River.

Yes, there are eels in the Niagara River, specifically the American Eel (Anguilla rostrata), which is one of the most remarkable migratory fish in North America. These eels are "catadromous," meaning they are born in the saltwater of the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean but migrate thousands of miles into freshwater rivers and lakes to mature. Niagara Falls serves as a natural geological boundary for their native distribution; while they are common in the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario, the massive falls historically prevented them from moving further into the upper Great Lakes. However, with the construction of the Welland Canal, some eels have been able to bypass the falls and enter Lake Erie. The American Eel is currently listed as an Endangered Species in Ontario due to habitat fragmentation caused by hydroelectric dams. These dams pose a physical barrier to their upstream migration and can be fatal to eels moving downstream toward the ocean to spawn. Despite their snake-like appearance, they are a vital part of the ecosystem and were historically a significant food source for Indigenous peoples in the region.