Muskrat
// April 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // Atikaki Wilderness Provincial Park, Beaudry Provincial Park, Birds Hill Provincial Park, Boreal Forest, Canadian Shield, Fort Whyte Nature Centre, Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park, Interlake, Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipeg, Mammals, Nopiming Provincial Park, Oak Hammock Marsh, Recent Posts, Rodents, Urban Nature, Whiteshell Provincial Park
Related to Beaver? No. Related to a Rat? No. It is said they are more likened to an overgrown field mouse. Thick, richly coloured fur which keeps them warm in the icy cold waters throughout winters. They build little mud/reed lodges for sleeping and eating in.
They are active during the later hours of the day. Muskrats do not have webbed feet and their tail is bald; both feet and tail are sparsely covered with fine hairs. Their tail is long and more round than flat and does look like a rat tail. They use musk glands to scent their trails and communicate. Muskrats are found in slower moving rivers, streams and marshy areas and inhabit virtually all areas of North America. Valued for their fur, they are trapped in large numbers and they have numerous air borne and land predators. In spite of this their population remains healthy. There are many fascinating facts (how they have adapted to eating underwater) about these mammals which have so well adapted to their aquatic habitats. Check out the following Muskrat Fact Sheet at Hinterland Who’s Who
Below: A good view of the hind feet
Below: A muskrat’s tail – round and bare
Muskrats use their front feet like hands to grip their preferred food like cat tails.
Enjoy!
~Sharon
