Muskrat

A muskrat forages for supper along the bank at Lake Yankton near Yankton, SD.

NPS/ C. Ver Mulm

Scientific Name

Ondatra zibethicus

Identification

• 2-4 lbs
• Similar appearance to beavers but distinct with their long, skinny, and scale-covered tail, which looks more similar to a rat tail
• Have dense, brown fur that is darker in the winter and paler in the summer
• Have a large head with ears that are almost invisible under their fur

Range and Habitat

The common muskrat primarily lives near marshes, ponds, lakes, and rivers. Muskrats will choose areas with water that is deep enough or that flows fast enough to prevent freezing in the winter.

 

NE Game and Parks Commission

Diet

Muskrats mainly eat plants and prefer plants with green stems that die annually (herbaceous plants). Some of their favorite foods include bulrush and cattails but they will also eat crops. They also are known to occasionally eat small fish, snails, and even turtles. Unlike the beaver, the muskrat does not store food for the winter. It needs to eat fresh plants each day, and sometimes it makes channels in the mud to get from its house to reach food under the ice. On especially cold days, a muskrat may stay in to eat the aquatic plants used to make its lodge.

Fun Facts

• Muskrats huddle together to stay warm when it’s cold.
• These critters can hold their breath for 15-20 minutes.
• Muskrats are key wetland species that help to control the spread of aquatic plants by eating them and maintaining open water spaces.

 

Learn About More Mammals!