Muskrat : North Carolina wildlife profiles

Muskrat North Carolina Wildlife Profiles Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) The muskrat is a small mammal that flourishes in North Carolina. It is highly adaptable and establishes colonies in riverbanks and marshes. Muskrats are coveted by humans for their fur and by predators, such as mink. The muskrat’s burrowing activities can cause damage to dikes, road beds, and dams and muskrats will harm crops. However, muskrats are virtually harmless to humans and can entertain anyone who stops to take time to appreciate them. Description The muskrat has are two basic color variations — brown (70 percent) and black (30 percent). Jet black and blond varieties do exist but both are rare. An excellent swimmer, this large rodent spends much of its life in water. It has a long, naked tail that is flattened vertically and webbed hind feet, which, for swimming purposes, are much larger than the front feet. Its ears are short and its fur is thick and soft. It looks like a small beaver with a thin tail. Adult muskrats range in size from 10-14 inches and weigh about 2 pounds. History and Status The muskrat is a North American native that dwells primarily in Canada and the United States. Native Americans relied on the muskrat, called "musquash,” for food and clothing. European colonists recognized the value of the muskrat; like beavers, muskrats were an important commodity in early trade. Due to the value of their fur, muskrats were introduced in Europe and Asia in the early 1900s. Essentially an am¬ phibious mammal, the muskrat spends its life in ponds and rivers, feeding on aquatic vegetation and on crops such as soybeans and corn. In general, muskrats survive well and are not in danger of extinction. Muskrats are abundant in North Carolina and can be legally trapped during the regulated trapping season. Because population densities are high in some areas, musk rats are more easily trapped than most other furbearers. However, the value of their pelts is relatively low'. Habitats & Habits Muskrats require a permanent supply of w'ater. They occupy a variety of wetland habitats including fresh and saltwater marshes, canals, ditches, ponds, lakes, rivers and other streams. Primarily plant eaters, muskrats feed on the roots, shoots and leaves of various aquatic plant species. They sometimes build platf orms of vegetation for feeding activities in ponds and marshes. Mussels and clams are also a food source. Piles of shells from freshwater mussels show where muskrats feed frequently, usually on rocks and along the banks of rivers and streams. Other food items are bark, acorns, frogs and small fish. In agricultural areas, feeding muskrats can damage soybeans and corn. Feeding activities are primarily nocturnal but muskrats are often seen during daylight hours. Muskrats are one of the most prolific furbearers in North America Range and Distribution Muskrats occupy much of the wetlands in the United States, but are absent from Florida and rare in some southern states. Muskrats occupy most of the river systems of North Carolina. They are rare in coastal areas of southeastern North Carolina. Musk¬ rats live in marshy, freshwater areas with a home range of less than a mile. Range Map