Hecla/Grindstone 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

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

Today some photos of the Red Fox.  Fox can become accustomed to human presence, frequent places like golf courses, cottage areas etc. and will accept handouts if people make the offer.  Not likely a good idea.  A few years back at the Pinawa Golf Course, foxes were so bold they would snatch lunches/snacks from the golf carts.  They are very cute little animals, slightly larger than a domestic cat but sometimes look bigger because of their usually bushy coat of fur.

Enjoy!

~Sharon