Muskrat

A muskrat at work is a wonderful sight, swimming low in a marsh with a mouthful of cattails and a long, scaly tail trailing behind. It looks like a small beaver, but the tail is narrow and flattened from side to side, and it lives in the shallows rather than in large ponds.

Muskrats build dome-shaped lodges out of cattails, reeds, and mud, with underwater entrances that keep predators out. In winter, they keep breathing holes open through the ice, and a family can stay warm inside the lodge. They feed mainly on aquatic plants, and they are an important part of the marsh, since their work opens up water for ducks and other wildlife. They are most active at dawn and dusk.

I like the busy, no-fuss way a muskrat goes about its day, holding its food in tiny hands.

Photos

Muskrat Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the muskrat in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more animals in the Manitoba wildlife section.

Back to Manitoba wildlife photography, or see the portfolio.