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Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Muskrats resemble large rats wish tang, vertically flattened tails. They reach total length of about 26" with the tail being about as long as the body. Heights of 3 to 4 1/2 Ibs. Are maximum. Their pelts are usually a rich glossy brown with the under fur being brown tipped dark gray, but it may range from in to black. The belly is silvery gray to light rusty tan. Although they are small, Muskrats are abundant and their annual dollar value probably exceeds all other North American forbearers.

Reproduction

Muskrats breed through the spring and summer, and have a high reproductive potential. While the usual numbers f young per litter are 5 to 6, as many as 11 have been recorded. With a gestation period (length of development of Dung inside mother) of 22-30 days, Muskrats may have 2 to 3 litters per year. Dens may be bank burrows or mall dome-shaped huts in relatively shallow water.

Habitat

Muskrats are largely aquatic. They are found in fresh and brackish water marshes, swamps, streams, lakes, and ends. Nearly every older farm pond has muskrats, and nearly any semi-permanent watercourse has at least a few. Beaver ponds, both active and inactive, are excellent muskrat habitat.

Habits

Like most other forbearers, muskrats are most active at night (nocturnal) or around dawn and dusk (crepuscular). They are frequently seen during the day, however. Although they are mainly aquatic, they will travel extensively along watercourses, even small spring runs, or over land. These travels are most frequent during the fall and right after ice-out in the spring.

Muskrats can reach rather dense populations. When populations are high, adult males will have a tendency to fight. Fighting results in a large number of cut and injured animals in some populations during March and April.

Although their teeth, like those of there rodents, are adapted to feeding on vegetation, muskrats will eat clams, Mussels, frogs, and fish as welt as cats ails, rushes, water lilies, and other aquatic plants. They are also fond of fruit and grains if available near water muskrats are creatures of habit regarding their travel routes. Their trails on land and in the water are readily evident to the experienced eye. Constant traffic and pruning keep their travel avenues open. These trails, channels, plant cuttings, tracks along banks, and scats are all signs of muskrat activity. Active bank bur-rows about 4"- 8" in diameter, feed beds of cut grasses or cattails and huts are also positive muskrat signs.

Disease

Muskrats suffer from several diseases including tularemia and hemorrhagic septicemia. Since humans can be infected with tularemia, avoid any contact with muskrats found dead or dying of no apparent cause. Wearing rubber or plastic gloves while skinning trapped muskrat can minimize the risk of contracting tularemia.

Trapping Tactics

Muskrats are not trap shy. In most instances, well darkened traps set under water need no covering at as. Muskrats may be taken in bait sets, runway or channel sets, and float sets. Blind sets in narrow waterways, along stream or pond banks where recent muskrat signs are present, or at feed beds are often productive.

Whenever possible, use small body-gripping traps for muskrats. Steel traps in sizes 1 and 11/2 are also appropriate. Whenever possible, muskrat sets should be made to ensure submerging the animal. Where the water is not deep enough to ensure submersion (about a foot), a guarded foot-hold trap or a body-gripping trap should be used. This is necessary because if a standard foot-hold trap is used and the muskrat isn't submerged, it may twist and pull until it escapes, leaving its foot in the trap. This is called wring-off, and is to be avoided at any cost. Submersion sets and body-gripping traps eliminate this problem. if a trapper is not absolutely that he or she can submerge a muskrat at a particular site, the trapper must either use a body-gripping trap or a guarded trap, or move the set to another location where the catch can be submerged. If a trapper finds evidence a muskrat has escaped due to wring-off, or even a live muskrat in his traps, he should immediately reevaluate his trapping methods to prevent this from happening again.

Baits and Lures

Muskrat lures and baits are numerous. Muskrat musk is frequently used in spring trapping. Fall and winter trappers use oil of sweet flag, spearmint, anise or some other sweet smelling oil as an attractor. Fish oil is also attractive to muskrats. Sweet apples, parsnips, and carrots are all used successfully as muskrat baits.