Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park

I make a point of driving up to Hecla Island a few times each year and it makes for a good day trip from Winnipeg.  While at the marsh boardwalk this little muskrat coated with some duckweed swam right up to where we were standing, climbed up the bank, immediately groomed his fur and dried off in what seemed a few minutes.  The muskrat started munching on greens – obviously not worried about any human presence.   Check out the teeth in the last photo -

Enjoy!

~Sharon

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

Summer is passing so quickly and I have hundreds of  new photos to catalogue and post.  Hopefully the “New Photos” Gallery will be updated in a few weeks – hope you will keep checking.

I almost passed this lovely bird by as it was swimming among Canada Geese at Hecla Island.  It was the little tuft of feather sticking up on its head that made me turn around and take a second look.  I have never seen this type of goose before – but they could be easily by-passed as my reference book indicates they can be found amongst the Canada Geese  as singles or small numbers.  They are about the same size as Canada Geese but their bill has a pinkish tone and their plumage quite different than Canadas.

Below – Greater White Fronted Goose swimming with Canada Geese.

Enjoy!

~Sharon