Common Muskrat

Physical Features

The Common Muskrat is the largest rodent in its subfamily, which includes the lemming and the vole. The Common Muskrat's gets its name from the two scent glands, which are found near its tail and gives off a strong 'musky' odor that the muskrat uses to mark its territory. Muskrats are covered with short, thick fur, medium to dark brown or black in color with their belly being lighter in color, but as they grow older it becomes partly gray in color. The Muskrats fur has two layers, which helps protect them from cold water. They have long tails that are covered with scales rather than hair and which are flattened vertically to aid them in swimming. The average length of an adult Muskrat is between 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) long with its tail making up almost half of its length. It has an average weight of 0.7 to 1.8 kg (1.5 to 4 pounds).

Habitat

The Common Muskrat commonly inhabits salt and fresh water wetlands, such as rivers, ponds and lakes. It can however survive in a wide range of climates and habitats. The Common Muskrat can be found in Europe, Asia and South America, particularly in Canada and northern Mexico.

Diet

The Common Muskrat is an omnivorous creature that feeds on aquatic vegetation including cattails, water lilies, pondweeds, sedges, rushes as well as some terrestrial plant cuttings and other scattered food debris. Crayfish, fish, frogs and freshwater clams also make up part of the Common Muskrat's diet. The Common Muskrat's mouth closes behind protruding incisors, thus allowing it to chew underwater. They sometimes eat the insides of their lodges because they do not put away food for the winter season.

Meat

Common Muskrats have sometimes been a food resource for humans. Their meat tastes similar to rabbit or duck. Their flesh has been sold as 'marsh rabbit,' and provided good eating, but its popularity has declined. Common Muskrat fur is warm, and the trapping of muskrats for their fur became an important industry in the early twentieth century. Their fur was considered extremely desirable because of its durable and waterproof nature. In the 1980s, nearly 10 million muskrats were trapped annually.

Behavior

The Common Muskrat is a nocturnal animal and is very active at night, at dusk and at dawn. It is particularly active in the spring. The Common Muskrat spends a lot of its time in water and is an excellent swimmer. It can swim both backwards and forwards easily. It is driven by its partially webbed feet and guided by its rudder-like tail. Common Muskrats normally live in family groups consisting of a male and female pair and their young. During the spring they often fight with other Muskrats over territory and potential mates. Many are injured or killed in these fights. Common Muskrat families build nests to protect themselves and their young from the cold and from predators. Like most rodents, they are prolific breeders with females having 2 to 3 litters a year. The gestation period lasts between 25 and 30 days after which 6 to 8 tiny, naked babies are born which barely weigh 22 grams (0.8 oz). In southern environments young Common Muskrats mature after 6 months, while in colder northern environments it takes longer and can take up to a year for them to mature. The infants grow fur after about two weeks and at this stage they can already swim and dive. A month thereafter they are weaned and expelled by their mother Various animals prey on Common Muskrats, among them being snakes, alligators, hawks, owls, eagles, wolves, minks, foxes, bears and coyotes. Otters, snapping turtles, and large fish such as the pike seek out and prey on the babies.

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