Muskrat

Winter and Spring are currently locked in a battle for supremacy. But we know which one will win! Now that the ice has melted, I have enjoyed observing quite a number of Muskrats. Their increased activity is evident, as they swim along reedy shorelines of ponds and shallow lakes.

Muskrats build nests to protect themselves from cold and predators. They burrow into banks with an underwater entrance, or construct “push-ups” made from vegetation and mud. Last spring, I watched a muskrat working on its “push-up” at a nearby lake. I quietly lay down on the shore line and waited as it swam right towards me. When it finally saw me, we were only about 5 feet apart. Often they will submerge when they feel threatened by the presence of a human, but this one casually swam off before diving out of site.

Yesterday, I was viewing a good number of ducks on a small pond, and saw a disturbance in the water near a fallen tree. I snuck over and out popped a muskrat. It swam right past me, and was soon joined by a second. They dove, then reappeared, and swam slowly away without too much concern. I am always happy to see these little guys!

This muskrat was foraging in the grass near a road. I stopped and got a couple of shots, with one of them showing the long and scaly tale.