I came into this week’s edition wondering just how interesting learning about our muskrat neighbors would be.

For your educational pleasure I have brought this lesson to your computer after doing my due diligence research on your behalf!

INTRODUCTION, PLEASE….

The common muskrat is named for its strong, musky odor, used for communication with others of the species.

The common muskrat is a medium-sized mammal that has short front legs with small feet, stronger hind legs with large feet and a vertically flattened, scaly tail slightly shorter than the combined length of head and body.

Its hind feet are partially webbed and it has small eyes and ears. The largest roden in its subfamily, the muskrat will grow to between 15.7 and 27.6 inches long. Its fur is dense and glossy, ranging in color from dark brown above, lighter on the sides and finer, softer and paler below to nearly white on the throat.

Known as water rodents they are well adapted to aquatic living. Their tails are scaly, nearly naked and ‘laterally flattened’ (higher than wide) as they taper to a point. The tail serves as a rudder guiding it through the water. The combination of powerful hinglegs and partially webbed hind feet make the muskrat a strong swimmer. Because the mouth closes behind protruding incisors, the muskrat can chew underwater. Omnivores, their diet consists mainly of aquatic vegetation and small mammals. Muskrats can remain submerged for long periods, and can travel long distances underwater. One individual was filmed underwater for 17 minutes, coming to the surface for air for 3 seconds, then submerging for another 10 minutes!

BREEDING

They breed late winter through early September in the North and year round in the South, producing one to five litters per year, each with one to 11 young. Females often breed while still nursing. Gestation is 25 to 30 days. Naked at birth, the young develop fur at two weeks and can swim and dive in a month. They are driven away by the mother upon weaning.

Houses or lodges are constructed of aquatic plants, especially cattails, and may be up to eight feet in diameter and five feet high, usually built atop piles of roots, mud or similar support in marshy areas, streams or lakes. They also burrow in stream or pond banks with entrances above the water line. The houses or lodges are similar to beaver lodges but much smaller. The animal continually adds to the house and feeding platform. The house usually shelters only one individual, although several may live together harmoniously except during breeding season. The house is kept immaculately clean, fecal droppings are deposited on logs and rocks outside. Naked at birth, the young become furred at two weeks after birth and can swim and dive in a month. They are weaned and soon driven away by the mother.

HABITAT AND RANGE

They live in fresh, brackish or saltwater marshes, ponds, lakes, rivers and canals. They live in most of Canada and the U.S. except for Artic regions, much of California and the Southwest, Texas and Florida.

They are most active at dusk, dawn and at night, but may be seen at any time of day in all seasons, especially spring. They spend must of the time in water and can swim forward or backward with ease, avoiding strong currents and avoids rocky areas. They feed on mostly aquatic vegetation, such as cattails, sedges, rushes, water lilies and pond weeds, along with some terrestrial plants. In some areas, the muskrat eats freshwater clams, along with crayfish, frogs and fish. Ordinarily the muskrat tows food out to a feeding platform, which is littered with plant cuttings and other scattered food debris.

CHALLENGES AND PREDATORS

Droughts and flooding are common hazards faced by muskrats, leading to periodic population fluctuations. Overcrowding, especially when it occurs during the fall and winter causes fighting among individuals, forcing many to travel several miles overland to seek a new place to live. Raccoons, minks and humans are this rodents main enemies (the first two open muskrat houses to capture the young) although many other animals also prey upon it. Until the decline of the fur industry, muskrat fur was considered desirable because it is durable and waterproof. In the 1980’s nearly 10 million muskrats were trapped annually. Their flesh sold as ‘marsh rabbit’ provides good eating although its popularity has declined.

Please go to my Flickr site for more muskrat photos – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157648941573643

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Director Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman

Allamuchy Historical Society – President