Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) lives in freshwater wetlands across North America. It feeds on aquatic plants roots. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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Muskrats can stay submerged for 12 to 17 minutes, a feat made possible by a reduced sensitivity to carbon-dioxide buildup, similar to seals and whales. Their webbed hind feet provide the thrust while a flattened, scaly tail acts as a rudder, letting them glide silently beneath the water's surface. This endurance lets them escape land predators and forage for vegetation under ice, linking them to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
A female muskrat can produce two to three litters each year, each containing six to eight kits that weigh only about 22 g (0.78 oz) at birth. With a gestation of roughly 29-30 days, the young become independent after just 30 days and reach adult size in about 200 days. but also drives cyclical population booms and busts every six to ten years.
Muskrats eat about one-third of their body weight daily, mainly cattails and other aquatic plants, but they also take small animals like mussels and frogs. By grazing, they can strip wetlands of vegetation, reshaping plant communities and creating open water that benefits waterfowl. Their foraging also supplies a rich food source for predators ranging from snapping turtles to bald eagles.
Since the 1990s, muskrat numbers have plummeted across the United States, dropping by at least half in 34 states and by up to 85% in places like Rhode Island, where populations are now only about 15% of historic levels. This steep decline, documented in a 2024 Hakai Magazine report.
A muskrat can weigh up to 2 kg, about four times the weight of a common brown rat, yet its body length is only 20-35 cm (8-14 in). push up to 90 cm-high "push-up" lodges that shape wetland structure.
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In the tranquil depths of a marshy wetland, the muskrat glides effortlessly through the water, its sleek, brown fur glistening in the dappled sunlight that filters through the aquatic vegetation. With a sinuous motion, it navigates the labyrinthine channels and tunnels it has carefully constructed, its webbed hind feet propelling it with quiet precision as it searches for the tender shoots and roots that sustain it. As it moves, the muskrat leaves behind a trail of subtle ripples, a testament to its serene and industrious presence in this delicate ecosystem.
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