Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
An adult muskrat is a semiaquatic rodent of wetlands, drainage ditches, ponds, and slow-moving rivers across much of North America. It feeds mainly on cattails, sedges, rushes, and other aquatic plants, though it may also eat small animals such as mussels or crayfish. Adults swim with partially webbed hind feet, use a flattened tail for steering, and defend territories around lodges or bank burrows. A notable fact is that muskrats can remain underwater for many minutes while traveling between feeding sites and den entrances.
- Type
- Water / Burrow
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Muskrat Kit
- Muskrat