The first rapid on Whites Creek in Tennessee is unofficially called Banzai Squirrel. We were looking at it in a flood, 6+feet in 1990. We walked out on a small bluff overlooking that rapid and suprised a squirrell who leaped 30 feet into the creek and swam, sucessfully, the rapid. Thus the name. It seemed to have more character than "first Drop". But YES they can swim.
Bill
