THE MUSKRAT RANGE- from Arctic regions of North America, south to Mexico HOME (HABITAT)- wetlands (ponds, rivers, lakes, swamps), prefers marshy areas- likes areas with lots of cattails, bulrushes, and pondweeds - water must be deep enough so it doesn't freeze to the bottom - digs burrows (tunnels) in banks if bulrushes and cattails aren't available to build lodges in the water. 
APPEARANCE- length over 30 cm (12 1/2 inches), about 50 cm to tip of tail- much smaller than a beaver (1 1/2 kg., 3 to 4 lbs.) - tail is long, thin, scaly, flattened, average length 24 cm (9 1/2 in.) - body is covered with brown fur (except tail and feet) - thick glossy waterproof layer of fur - short thick underfur - head is large, small ears almost invisible, whiskers - large front teeth (two upper and two lower) - short legs,"webbed" back feet for swimming
 FOOD- favorite food - cattails- also eats bulrushes, horsetails, pondweeds, wild rice - will eat fish, frogs, clams, crayfish if plants not available - farmers' crops THE YOUNG- average litter of six (from 5 to 10)- may have three litters in 3 months - "kits" are born in grass-lined nest - newborns may have no fur or a very thin coat of fur - eyes are closed (blind), weight about 22 grams, 10 cm long - by one week they have greyish-brown fur - able to swim in 10 days - good swimmers and divers at 3 weeks of age - drink mother's milk at first, in 3 weeks they eat green plants - take care of themselves by four or five weeks of age HABITS / BEHAVIOR- has territories- lives in large family groups - older offspring must leave if overcrowded - most active in late afternoon and evening - communicates by use of scent glands which produce musky smell - makes squeaks and squeals - poor sense of sight, hearing, and smell - does not like dry, hot weather ADAPTATIONS- fur keeps it waterproof and warm- a good swimmer, stays underwater 12 to 17 minutes - "musk scent" used to communicate and to warn others - front feet (hands) are for building lodges, holding food, digging - teeth stick out,able to chew food underwater with mouth closed - large hind feet, special hairs (like webs) for swimming - chisel-like teeth for cutting stems and roots of plants - front teeth can be up to 2 cm. long - burrow serves as escape from predators (enemies) - fixes or builds lodges in the fall to prepare for winter - stores food in fall for winter use - in winter,chews through ice to create a push-up (mini-lodge) - the push-up is a place for a muskrat to eat and rest ENEMIESin water:- mink feeds on young muskrats (enters burrows and lodges) - snapping turtle and northern pike (jackfish) on land : - wolf, coyote, fox and dog - badger, wolverine, fisher, racoon and lynx - humans hunt it for its fur, some eat muskrat meat - large birds (hawks, owls, eagles) are also enemies defence: - escapes into deep water or hides in burrow - uses sharp front teeth to fight attacker OTHER INTERESTING FACTS- once very important to the fur trade- fur is used for coats, trimmings - eats farmers' grain, tunnels destroy irrigation ditches - not a close relative of the beaver, not a true rat - basically a large field mouse adapted to live in and near water - most muskrats live one or two years, but can live up to four years - cold winters, drought, drainage of wetlands and floods cause a drop in population |
