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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

provided by AnAge articles
Observations: There are conflicting reports about the longevity of the muskrat. In the wild, these animals live about 3 years. It has been suggested that they live up to 10 years in captivity (Ronald Nowak 1999). While this is plausible, it has not been confirmed. One specimen lived 5.8 years in captivity (Richard Weigl 2005). More studies are necessary to better estimate the longevity of the muskrat.
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Benefits

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Muskrats not only eat the grain on a farm but they have also been known to plug the drain tiles on farms as well. Muskrats also have a habit of building their homes around dikes. These homes make the dikes weak and eventually destroy the structure (Baker, 1983).

Negative Impacts: crop pest

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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Muskrats are widespread and abundant. Populations remain stable even when they are being hunted for fur, affected by disease, or a target for large predator populations because muskrats have the ability to reproduce quickly.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Behavior

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Muskrats communicate by a secretion from their glands called musk. This scent also serves to warn intruders. They are capable of vocalizing by squeaks and squeals. Muskrats have poorly developed senses of sight, hearing, and smell.

Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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The fur of a muskrat is important in the fur industry. Also, the meat from a muskrat is suitable for human consumption (Baker, 1983).

Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Associations

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Muskrats are very abundant in areas of good habitat, making them important prey animals for predator populations. By grazing on vegetation, muskrats influence the composition of local plant communities.

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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Muskrats are mainly vegetarians but will eat animals as well. Muskrats consume about one-third of their weight every day. Their digestive system is designed for green vegetation. In the summer they eat the roots of aquatic plants. In the winter, they swim under the surface ice to get to the plants. Muskrats also eat agricultural crops (Baker, 1983).

Primary Diet: herbivore

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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The muskrat is found in swamps, marshes, and wetlands from northern North America to the Gulf coast and the Mexican border. Early in the 20th century, muskrats were introduced to northern Eurasia (Baker, 1983).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Introduced ); neotropical (Introduced )

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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Muskrats are found in wet environments, favoring locations with four to six feet of water. While muskrats are found in ponds, lakes, and swamps, their favorite locations are marshes, where the water level stays constant. Marshes provide the best vegetation for muskrats. They find shelter in bank burrows and their distinctive nests. Bank burrows are tunnels excavated in a bank. The nests of the muskrats are formed by piles of vegetation placed on top of a good base, for example a tree stump, generally in 15 to 40 inches of water (Baker, 1983).

Habitat Regions: temperate

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Life Expectancy

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Although muskrats have been known to live to 10 years old in captivity, they probably live about 3 years in the wild.

Range lifespan
Status: captivity:
10.0 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
3.0 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
4.0 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
3.0 years.

Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
10.0 years.

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Associations

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Muskrats are excellent swimmers and can evade many predators by escaping into water or into their burrows and nests. They can remain under water for up to 15 minutes.

Known Predators:

  • American minks (Neovison vison)
  • raccoons (Procyon lotor)
  • Northern river otters (Lontra canadensis)
  • coyotes (Canis latrans)
  • barn owls (Tyto alba)
  • barred owls (Strix varia)
  • northern harriers (Circus cyaneus)
  • American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)
  • cottonmouth water moccasins (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Morphology

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Muskrats have large, robust bodies, with a total body length of twelve and a half inches. The tail is flat and scaly and is nine and a half inches in length. Muskrats have dense fur that traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy. Their heads are very large and their ears are almost invisible underneath the fur. The whiskers are mediun size. Muskrats have short legs and big feet; the back feet are slightly webbed for swimming. Adult muskrats have glossy upperparts that are dark brown, darker in winter and paler in the summer (Baker, 1983).

Range mass: 680.0 to 1800.0 g.

Average mass: 1135.8 g.

Range length: 410.0 to 620.0 mm.

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Average basal metabolic rate: 4.363 W.

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Toni Lynn Newell, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Reproduction

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Southern muskrat populations can breed year round while northern populations only breed in the warmer months (March to August). The gestation period is 29 - 30 days and the litter size averages around 6, with northern populations having larger litters. Young are born in a grass lined nest. When born, the muskrat has short dark fur, closed eyes, and weighs around 22 grams. They are able to swim at 10 days and by 21 days can eat green vegetation. In 30 days muskrats gain their independence and will reach adult size in 200 days (Baker, 1983).

Breeding season: Varies with latitude.

Range gestation period: 30.0 (high) days.

Range weaning age: 3.0 to 4.0 weeks.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 7.0 to 12.0 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 7.0 to 12.0 months.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous

Average birth mass: 22.72 g.

Average number of offspring: 6.7.

Young are cared for and nursed by their mothers in the nest until they are about 2 weeks old, when they begin to swim and eat vegetation. They are fully weaned by 3 to 4 weeks old and leave their mother's home range after their first winter, usually when they are less than a year old.

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care

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Newell, T. 2000. "Ondatra zibethicus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.html
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Brief Summary

provided by Ecomare
Muskrats are good swimmers thanks to their webbed feet and slightly flattened tail. They live around freshwater lakes and rivers with overgrown banks. They dig tunnels into these banks, with the entrance usually located underwater. During the winter, they build lodges from grass and reed. Their diet consists of aquatic plants, grass, plant roots, field crops and occasionally freshwater shells, crustaceans and fish. Muskrats are sometimes consumed by humans. Since muskrats live in water, they are considered equivalent to fish. That is why Catholics living in Detroit are allowed to eat them on days when fish is permitted but not meat.
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Associated Plant Communities

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
Common muskrats inhabit wetland plant communities comprised of cattail (Typha
spp.), bulrush (Scirpus spp.), sedge (Carex spp.), reed (Phragmites
spp.), cordgrass (Spartina spp.), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), and
black rush (Juncus roemerianus) [1,14].
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Common Names

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
common muskrat
water rat
rat
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Conservation Status

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
Information on state- and province-level protection status of animals in the
United States and Canada is available at NatureServe, although recent changes
in status may not be included.
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Cover Requirements

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: cover, density, herbaceous, selection

Common muskrat populations tend to be higher in areas with dense aquatic,
emergent vegetation that is surrounded by terrestrial herbaceous
vegetation. Forested riverbanks usually do not support common muskrat
populations. High quality habitat is characterized by 50 percent or
more of an area having dense emergent species, although if habitats
become "choked" with vegetation, common muskrat numbers will be low. Ideal
ratios for vegetation to water are 75:25 to 80:20 [1].

Water levels and velocities affect common muskrat habitat [14]. Typically, if
levels are too low, food availability will also be low. This is most
pronounced in winter when low water levels allow freezing of the
substrate, killing food and cover species [1,14]. Stream gradients and
velocities were studied in Massachusetts to determine habitat selection
by common muskrats. Streams with gradients more than 47.5 feet per mile (9.0
m/km) and flows less than 4 cubic feet per second (cfs) (0.1 m3/sec) did
not support common muskrats. However, common muskrats were found in streams with
gradients less than 32.2 feet per mile (6.1 m/km) and flows greater than
4 cfs. River habitats with flows greater than 1,000 cfs (28 m3/sec)
typically experience scouring and water level fluctuations too great to
support common muskrat populations [1].

In some cases more than a 2-foot (0.6 m) rise in lake levels forces
common muskrats out of burrows and lodges, although some fluctuation is
necessary for regeneration of emergent vegetation [1]. Lake and pond
depths of between 18 inches and 4 feet (0.46-1.2 m) may be ideal.
Islands and coves can usually provide additional shoreline and more
vegetation for food and cover than bodies of water without these
features. Recommended water depths in Gulf coastal marshes are 0.8 to
11.8 inches (2-30 cm) year-round. Levels should not fall more than 3.1
inches (8 cm) below the substrate so that Olney bulrush (Scirpus
olneyi), a highly preferred food for common muskrats, can regenerate [1].

Common muskrats need emergent vegetation and a firm substrate for building
lodges [1]. They rarely use submergent vegetation. Optimum sites for
bank burrows are on slopes of 30 degrees or more, with a minimum height
of 1.6 feet (0.5 m). Maximum breeding density for common muskrats is 5 pairs
per hectare [14].
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Distribution

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
Common muskrats are distributed across North America from northern Alaska and
Canada south to parts of the Gulf Coast and northern portions of Mexico
[1]. They are found in northern and central California, parts of
southern Arizona, northern Utah and Nevada, most of New Mexico, the
Texas Panhandle, and eastern Texas, and a small part of western Texas
and the Louisiana coast. Common muskrats are not found in Florida or coastal
Georgia and South Carolina [14]. Ranges for each subspecies are given
below [14]:

1. O. z. zibethicus - eastern U.S. and southeastern Canada
2. O. z. albus - Manitoba and adjacent central Canada
3. O. z. aquilonius - Labrador and adjacent Ungava and Quebec
4. O. z. bernardi - Colorado River areas of southeastern California,
southern Nevada, and western Arizona and Mexico
5. O. z. cinnamominus - Great Plains
6. O. z. goldmani - southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona, and
southeastern Nevada
7. O. z. macrodon - mid-Atlantic Coast
8. O. z. mergens - northern Nevada and parts of adjacent states
9. O. z. obscurus - Newfoundland
10. O. z. occipitalis - coastal Oregon and Washington
11. O. z. osoyoosensis - Rocky Mountains and southwestern Canada
12. O. z. pallidus - southcentral Arizona and west-central New Mexico
13. O. z. ripensis - southwestern Texas and southeastern New Mexico
14. O. z. rivalicius - southern Louisiana, Mississippi coast,
western Alabama, and eastern Texas
15. O. z. spatulatus - northwestern North America
16. O. z. zalophus - southern Alaska
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Food Habits

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
Common muskrats eat the basal parts, rhizomes, and leaves of aquatic emergent
vegetation. Although they consume mostly plant material, they eat some
fish, crustaceans, dead birds, and frogs [14]. In Gulf coastal marshes,
Olney bulrush is an important food [16]. Plant food species vary with
common muskrat distribution, but some of the major foods are cattail, bulrush,
sedge, arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.), waterlily (Nymphaea spp.), wild rice
(Zizania aquatica), sweetflag (Acorus calamus), pondweed (Potamogeton
spp.), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), spikerush (Eleocharis spp.),
smartweed (Polygonum spp.), clover (Trifolium spp.), bluestem
(Andropogon spp.), rice (Oryza spp.), panicgrass (Panicum spp.),
paspalum (Paspalum spp.), burreed (Sparganium spp.), millet (Echinochloa
spp.), willow (Salix spp.), poplar (Populus spp.), and some crops. They
also consume acorns and maple (Acer spp.) samaras [1,14,16].
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat-related Fire Effects

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: cover, marsh, succession

Periodic marsh burning is usually necessary to remove dead vegetation,
cycle nutrients, and increase vigor of desirable plant species.
Conversely, if detritus is allowed to accumulate, fires can become
severe enough to destroy desirable species [12].

Mid-July burning of marshes "choked" with common reed (Phragmites
communis) in Manitoba resulted in an increase of common muskrat populations
[18]. Reed did not reach preburn densities until 4 years later.

Olney bulrush increases in cover following burning [10,16]. If this
species is not periodically burned, it can be replaced by needlerush
(Eleocharis acicularis), sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense), and pineland
threeawn (Aristida stricta), which are less desirable food and cover
species for common muskrats. Seventy-five to 100 percent of needlerush,
sawgrass, and pineland threeawn can be removed by fire [14]. Burning
saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) will remove it, allowing for
succession by Olney bulrush. Cordgrass outcompetes Olney bulrush in the
absence of fire [16]. Burning cordgrass and saltgrass (Distichlis
spicata) during "normal" water levels may not be as effective as burning
when water levels are lower in the fall, or until late spring following
a flooding treatment with water levels between 10 and 15 inches
(25.4-38.1 cm) [16].
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Cover Types

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

16 Aspen
63 Cottonwood
108 Red maple
217 Aspen
235 Cottonwood - willow
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Ecosystem

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES17 Elm-ash-cottonwood
FRES18 Maple-beech-birch
FRES28 Western hardwoods
FRES36 Mountain grasslands
FRES37 Mountain meadows
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES40 Desert grasslands
FRES41 Wet grasslands
FRES42 Annual grasslands
FRES44 Alpine
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Plant Associations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the term: forest

K049 Tule marshes
K073 Northern cordgrass prairie
K074 Bluestem prairie
K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie
K077 Bluestem - sacahuista prairie
K078 Southern cordgrass prairie
K090 Live oak - sea oats
K101 Elm - ash forest
K114 Pocosin
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Management Considerations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: marsh, rhizome

A variety of animals use common muskrat lodges including snakes, turtles,
toads, Canada geese (Branta canadensis), and black terns (Childonias
niger) [14].

Common muskrats can reduce cattail enough to allow purple loosestrife (Lythrum
salicaria), an undesirable weed, to replace cattail and degrade marsh
quality [15].

Management of water levels can have a strong impact on common muskrat habitat
because of fluctuation influences on certain food species [14].
Drawdowns can have a negative impact on common muskrat populations [17]. Low
water levels may encourage undesirable species to take over. Prolonged
flooding can destroy food plants [14]. Water levels in Louisiana
coastal marshes strongly influence the distribution of Olney bulrush
[13]. Recommended water levels for these areas are between 0.5 to 2.0
inches (1.3-5.0 cm), and never less than 2.0 to 3.1 inches (5-8 cm)
below the substrate [13,14]. Recommended water levels for Maine are
between 6 and 20 inches (15-51 cm) [14]. For detailed information on
how water levels affect cattail refer to Weller [19]. For more detailed
information on general affect of water level refer to Perry [14].

Common muskrat populations tend to follow a roughly six- to 14-year cycle,
where low numbers leading to good food supplies are followed by a
population boom and a subsequent decline in common muskrat numbers [4,14]. In
Gulf coastal marshes these booms cause "eat-outs", which are areas of
extensive overharvest of Olney bulrush by common muskrats. This usually occurs
in pure Olney bulrush stands, and can have a detrimental impact on
stands. Bulrush must establish within 5 months after an "eat-out"
occurs or it will die out [16]. Regeneration can occur through
sprouting from rhizome fragments in the substrate. Prolonged flooding
can delay regeneration in "eat-out" areas. For more in-depth discussion
on management of Olney bulrush refer to Sipple [16].

In some areas mosquito control projects can destroy marshes, as can
dredging, diking, and urban sprawl [15].
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Occurrence in North America

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
GA
ID

IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI

MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY

NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN

TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
DC

AB
BC
MB
NB
NF
NT
NS
ON
PE
PQ

SK
YK


MEXICO

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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Predators

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
Common muskrat predators include humans, mink (Mustella vison), raccoon
(Procyon lotor), bobcat (Felix rufus), house cat (F. domesticus),
domestic dog (Canis familiaris), coyote (C. latrans), red fox (Vulpes
vulpes), barn owl (Tyto alba), barred owl (Strix varia), great horned
owl (Bubo virginianus), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), bald eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus), eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon
piscivorus), alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), snapping turtle
(Chelydra serpentina), bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), garfish (Lepisosteus
spp.), bowfin (Amia calva), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
[14]. Common muskrats will kill the young of other common muskrats when populations
are too dense.
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bibliographic citation
Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Preferred Habitat

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More info for the term: marsh

Common muskrats prefer sloughs, marshes, oxbow lakes, streams, levees, dikes,
and small lakes and ponds [1]. Along the Gulf Coast, they prefer
brackish marshes over freshwater marshes. Common muskrats build lodges in or
near water (within 3.3 feet [1 m]), using marsh vegetation.
Alternatively, they construct elaborate bank burrows that may be up to
45 feet (15 m) long [1,14]. Entrances to both lodges and burrows are
usually under water, and both are multichambered. During periods of low
water, common muskrats dig canals from lodges and burrows to deeper water
areas. They also build feeding platforms to get out of the water to
eat, or feeding huts for protection from the elements and predators
[14]. Common muskrats will usually stay within 45 feet (15 m) of their lodges
while foraging, although they can range out to 550 feet (183 m). Habitat
suitability index models have been developed for common muskrats inhabiting
inland freshwater and Atlantic or Gulf coast estuarine areas [1].
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

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More info on this topic.

This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

1 Northern Pacific Border
2 Cascade Mountains
3 Southern Pacific Border
4 Sierra Mountains
5 Columbia Plateau
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
10 Wyoming Basin
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
14 Great Plains
15 Black Hills Uplift
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
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bibliographic citation
Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Taxonomy

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
The currently accepted scientific name for common muskrat is Ondatra zibethicus
[7]. There are 16 subspecies that differ in population status,
distribution, habits, and habitat [14]:

1. O. zibethicus ssp. zibethicus
2. O. zibethicus ssp. albus
3. O. zibethicus ssp. aquilonius
4. O. zibethicus ssp. bernardi
5. O. zibethicus ssp. cinnamominus
6. O. zibethicus ssp. goldmani
7. O. zibethicus ssp. macrodon
8. O. zibethicus ssp. mergens
9. O. zibethicus ssp. obscurus
10. O. zibethicus ssp. occipitalis
11. O. zibethicus ssp. osoyoosensis
12. O. zibethicus ssp. pallidus
13. O. zibethicus ssp. ripensis
14. O. zibethicus ssp. rivalicius
15. O. zibethicus ssp. spatulatus
16. O. zibethicus ssp. zalophus
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bibliographic citation
Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Timing of Major Life History Events

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: altricial, litter

Breed - March through October, peaking from March through June
Age of Maturity - from 6 to 8 weeks or 1 year
Gestation - 28 to 30 days
Litter - 4 to 7 kits north of 37 degrees north latitude, with 3 or fewer
litters per year; 3 to 4 kits south of 37 degrees north
latitude, with 3 or more litters per year; young are altricial
Weaning - 4 weeks
Life Span - up to 4 years in the wild [14]
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bibliographic citation
Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Use of Fire in Population Management

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: cover, fire regime, succession

Fire can be used to set back succession of marshes (common muskrats thrive in
early seral vegetation stages), prevent the accumulation of detritus,
control undesirable species, and promote good growing conditions for
Olney bulrush [8,14]. When burning Olney bulrush stands, it is best to
leave 0 to 2 inches (5 cm) of standing water, and burn between
mid-October and the first of January [12,16]. Olney bulrush grows
throughout the winter, and burning just before or during this time will
give it a good advantage over other species. Burning dates will vary
for different areas, and burning may be necessary every year or two
except during times of drought [16]. When burning to eliminate
needlerush, do so in late February or early March and when it is dry
enough so that needlerush is damaged [14]. Switchgrass (Panicum
virgatum) and Olney bulrush should establish by the second or third
postfire year. Burning Atlantic coastal marshes is recommended in late
winter to ensure adequate winter cover for common muskrats [14].

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".
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Snyder, S. A. 1993. Ondatra zibethicus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Conservation Status

provided by Indiana Dunes LifeDesk
Muskrats are not endangered and are common in the US.
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Ecology

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Muskrats build conical houses above the water level. Houses are made from plants within the marshes.
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General Description

provided by Indiana Dunes LifeDesk
The muskrat ranges throughout most of the US and Canada. Muskrats are large rodents with long naked flattened tails. The live in ponds, lakes, and marshes. Muskrats were highly valued in the fur trade.
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Trophic Strategy

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Muskrats eat freshwater clams, aquatic vegetation, and sometimes small fish. They are omnivores.
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Muskrat

provided by wikipedia EN

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. It has important effects on the ecology of wetlands,[2] and is a resource of food and fur for humans.

Adult muskrats weigh 0.6–2 kg (1+144+12 lb), with a body length (excluding the tail) of 20–35 cm (8–14 in). They are covered with short, thick fur of medium to dark brown color. Their long tails, covered with scales rather than hair, are their main means of propulsion. Muskrats spend most of their time in the water and can swim under water for 12 to 17 minutes. They live in families, consisting of a male and female pair and their young. To protect themselves from the cold and from predators, they build nests that are often burrowed into the bank with an underwater entrance. Muskrats feed mostly on cattail and other aquatic vegetation but also eat small animals.

Ondatra zibethicus is the only extant species in the genus Ondatra and tribe Ondatrini. It is the largest species in the subfamily Arvicolinae, which includes 142 other species of rodents, mostly voles and lemmings. Muskrats are referred to as "rats" in a general sense because they are medium-sized rodents with an adaptable lifestyle and an omnivorous diet. They are not, however, members of the genus Rattus. They are not closely related to beavers, with which they share habitat and general appearance.

Etymology

The muskrat's name probably comes from a word of Algonquian (possibly Powhatan[3]) origin, muscascus (literally "it is red", so called for its colorings), or from the Abenaki native word mòskwas, as seen in the archaic English name for the animal, musquash. Because of the association with the "musky" odor, which the muskrat uses to mark its territory, and its flattened tail, the name became altered to musk-beaver;[4] later it became "muskrat" due to its resemblance to rats.[5][6][7]

Similarly, its specific name zibethicus means "musky", being the adjective of zibethus "civet musk; civet".[8][9] The genus name comes from the Huron word for the animal, ondathra,[10] and entered Neo-Latin as Ondatra via French.[11]

Description

An adult muskrat is about 40–70 cm (16–28 in) long, half of that length being the tail, and weighs 0.6–2 kg (1+144+12 lb).[12] That is about four times the weight of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), though an adult muskrat is only slightly longer. It is almost certainly the largest and heaviest member of the diverse family Cricetidae, which includes all voles, lemmings, and most mice native to the Americas, and hamsters in Eurasia. The muskrat is much smaller than a beaver (Castor canadensis), with which they often share habitat.[5][6]

A muskrat skull

Muskrats are covered with short, thick fur, which is medium to dark brown or black in color, with the belly a bit lighter (countershaded); as the animal ages, it turns partly gray. The fur has two layers, which provides protection from cold water. They have long tails covered with scales rather than hair. To aid in swimming, their tails are slightly flattened vertically,[13] a shape that is unique to them.[14] When they walk on land, their tails drag on the ground, which makes their tracks easy to recognize.[5][6]

Muskrats spend most of their time in water and are well suited to their semiaquatic life. They can swim underwater for 12 to 17 minutes. Their bodies, like those of seals and whales, are less sensitive to the buildup of carbon dioxide than those of most other mammals. They can close off their ears to keep water out. Their hind feet are webbed and are their main means of propulsion. Their tail functions as a rudder, controlling the direction they swim in.[15]

Distribution and ecology

A muskrat eating a plant, showing the long claws used for digging burrows

Muskrats are found over most of Canada and the United States and a small part of northern Mexico. They were introduced to Europe in the beginning of the 20th century and have become an invasive species in northwestern Europe. They mostly inhabit wetlands, areas in or near saline and freshwater wetlands, rivers, lakes, or ponds. They are not found in Florida, where the round-tailed muskrat, or Florida water rat (Neofiber alleni), fills their ecological niche.[5]

Their populations naturally cycle; in areas where they become abundant, they are capable of removing much of the vegetation in wetlands.[16] They are thought to play a major role in determining the vegetation of prairie wetlands in particular.[17] They also selectively remove preferred plant species, thereby changing the abundance of plant species in many kinds of wetlands.[2] Species commonly eaten include cattail and yellow water lily. Alligators are thought to be an important natural predator, and the absence of muskrats from Florida may in part be the result of alligator predation.[18]

While much wetland habitat has been eliminated due to human activity, new muskrat habitat has been created by the construction of canals or irrigation channels (e.g., acequias), and the muskrat remains common and widespread. They are able to live alongside streams which contain the sulfurous water that drains away from coal mines. Fish and frogs perish in such streams, yet muskrats may thrive and occupy the wetlands. Muskrats also benefit from human persecution of some of their predators.[6]

The muskrat is classed as a "prohibited new organism" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, preventing it from being imported into the country.[19]

The trematode Metorchis conjunctus can also infect muskrats.[20]

Subspecies

Distribution of subspecies in North America.
O.z.zibethicus
O.z.albus
O.z.aquilonius
O.z.bernardi
O.z.cinnamominus
O.z.goldmani
O.z.macrodon
O.z.mergens
O.z.obscurus
O.z.occipitalis
O.z.osoyoosensis
O.z.pallidus
O.z.ripensis
O.z.rivalicus
O.z.spatulatus
O.z.zalophus

Ondatra zibethicus has 16 subspecies: O.z. albus, O.z. aquihnis, O.z. bemardi, O.z. cinnamominus, O.z. macrodom, O.z. mergens, O.z. obscurus, O.z. occipitalis, O.z. osoyoosensis, O.z. pallidus, O.z.ripensis, O.z. rivalicus, O.z. roidmani, O.z. spatulatus, O.z. zalaphus and O.z. zibethicus.[21]

Invasiveness status

In Europe, the muskrat has been included in the list of invasive alien species of Union concern (the Union list) since August 2, 2017.[22] This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.[23]

Behavior

A muskrat house

Muskrats normally live in families consisting of a male and female and their young. During the spring, they often fight with other muskrats over territory and potential mates. Many are injured or killed in these fights. Muskrat families build nests to protect themselves and their young from cold and predators. In streams, ponds, or lakes, muskrats burrow into the bank with an underwater entrance. These entrances are 15–20 cm (6–8 in) wide. In marshes, push-ups are constructed from vegetation and mud. These push-ups are up to 90 cm (3 ft) in height. In snowy areas, they keep the openings to their push-ups closed by plugging them with vegetation, which they replace every day. Some muskrat push-ups are swept away in spring floods and have to be replaced each year. Muskrats also build feeding platforms in wetlands. They help maintain open areas in marshes, which helps to provide habitat for aquatic birds.[6][24]

Muskrats are most active at night or near dawn and dusk. They feed on cattail and other aquatic vegetation. They do not store food for the winter, but sometimes eat the insides of their push-ups. While they may appear to steal food beavers have stored, more seemingly cooperative partnerships with beavers exist, as featured in the BBC David Attenborough wildlife documentary The Life of Mammals.[25] Plant materials compose about 95% of their diets, but they also eat small animals, such as freshwater mussels, frogs, crayfish, fish, and small turtles.[5][6] Muskrats follow trails they make in swamps and ponds. When the water freezes, they continue to follow their trails under the ice.

Muskrat swimming, Rideau River, Ottawa

Muskrats provide an important food resource for many other animals, including mink, foxes, cougars, coyotes, wolves, lynx, bobcats, raccoons, bears, wolverines, eagles, snakes, alligators, bull sharks, large owls, and hawks. Otters, snapping turtles, herons, bullfrogs, large fish such as pike and largemouth bass, and predatory land reptiles such as monitor lizards prey on baby muskrats. Caribou, moose, and elk sometimes feed on the vegetation which makes up muskrat push-ups during the winter when other food is scarce for them.[26] In their introduced range in the former Soviet Union, the muskrat's greatest predator is the golden jackal. They can be completely eradicated in shallow water bodies, and during the winter of 1948–49 in the Amu Darya (river in central Asia), muskrats constituted 12.3% of jackal faeces contents, and 71% of muskrat houses were destroyed by jackals, 16% of which froze and became unsuitable for muskrat occupation. Jackals also harm the muskrat industry by eating muskrats caught in traps or taking skins left out to dry.[27]

Muskrats, like most rodents, are prolific breeders. Females can have two or three litters a year of six to eight young each. The babies are born small and hairless and weigh only about 22 g (340 gr). In southern environments, young muskrats mature in six months, while in colder northern environments, it takes about a year. Muskrat populations appear to go through a regular pattern of rise and dramatic decline spread over a six- to 10-year period. Some other rodents, including famously the muskrat's close relatives the lemmings, go through the same type of population changes.

In human history

Native Americans have long considered the muskrat to be a very important animal. Some predict winter snowfall levels by observing the size and timing of muskrat lodge construction.[28]

In several Native American creation myths, the muskrat dives to the bottom of the primordial sea to bring up the mud from which the earth is created, after other animals have failed in the task.[29]

Muskrats have sometimes been a food resource for North Americans.[30] In the southeastern portion of Michigan, a longstanding dispensation allows Catholics to consume muskrat as their Friday penance, on Ash Wednesday, and on Lenten Fridays (when the eating of flesh, except for fish, is prohibited); this tradition dates back to at least the early 19th century.[31] In 2019, it was reported that a series of muskrat dinners were held during Lent in the areas along the Detroit River, with up to 900 muskrats being consumed at a single dinner. The preparation involved the removal of the musk glands and the gutting and cleaning of the carcass, before the meat was parboiled for four hours with onion and garlic and finally fried.[32]

Muskrat fur is warm, becoming prime at the beginning of December in northern North America. In the early 20th century, the trapping of the animal for its fur became an important industry there. During that era, the fur was specially trimmed and dyed to be sold widely in the US as "Hudson seal" fur.[33] Muskrats were introduced at that time to Europe as a fur resource, and spread throughout northern Europe and Asia.

In some European countries, such as Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, the muskrat is considered an invasive pest, as its burrowing damages the dikes and levees on which these low-lying countries depend for protection from flooding. In those countries, it is trapped, poisoned, and hunted to attempt to keep the population down. Muskrats also eat corn and other farm and garden crops growing near water bodies.[6]

Royal Canadian Mounted Police winter hats are made from muskrat fur.[34]

References

  1. ^ Cassola, F. (2016). "Ondatra zibethicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T15324A22344525. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15324A22344525.en. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Keddy, Paul A. (2010). Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-521-73967-2. LCCN 2010009142.
  3. ^ "muskrat". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Hearne, Samuel (2007). A Journey to the Northern Ocean: The Adventures of Samuel Hearne. Classics West. Victoria, British Columbia: TouchWood Editions. ISBN 978-1-894898-60-7. LCCN 2007931913.
  5. ^ a b c d e Caras, Roger A. (1967). North American Mammals: Fur-bearing Animals of the United States and Canada. New York: Galahad Books. ISBN 0-88365-072-X.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Nowak, Ronald M.; Paradiso, John L. (1983). Walker's Mammals of the World. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-2525-3. LCCN 82049056.
  7. ^ "Muskrat". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  8. ^ "zivet". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  9. ^ Lemery, Nicolas (1759). Dictionnaire universel des drogues simples (in French). Paris: L.-Ch. d'Houry. p. 942. Zibethum [...], en français, civette, est une matière liquid [...] d'une odeur forte & désagréable. [Zibethum, in French, civette, is a liquid [...] with a strong and unpleasant odour.]
  10. ^ Valmont de Bomare, Jacques-Christophe (1791). Dictionnaire raisonné universel de l'histoire naturelle (in French). Lyon: Bruyset Frères. p. 205.
  11. ^ "Ondatra". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Unabridged (subscription required)
  12. ^ Burnie, David; Wilson, Don E., eds. (2005). Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife. New York: DK Adult. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5. LCCN 2006272650.
  13. ^ "Wildlife Directory: Muskrat". Living with Wildlife in Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  14. ^ Lavender, Catherine. "Late Winter on Staten Island: The Crepuscular Dance of the Muskrats". Staten Island Through the Seasons. College of Staten Island. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  15. ^ Fish, Frank E. (1982). "Function of the compressed tail of surface swimming muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)". Journal of Mammalogy. 63 (4): 591–597. doi:10.2307/1380263. JSTOR 1380263.
  16. ^ O'Neil, Ted (1949). The Muskrat in the Louisiana Coastal Marshes: A Study of the Ecological, Geological, Biological, Tidal, and Climatic Factors Governing the Production and Management of the Muskrat Industry in Louisiana. New Orleans, Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. LCCN 50063347.
  17. ^ van der Valk, Arnold G., ed. (1989). Northern Prairie Wetlands. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press. ISBN 0-8138-0037-4. LCCN 88009266.
  18. ^ Keddy, Paul A.; Gough, Laura; Nyman, J. Andy; McFalls, Tiffany; Carter, Jacoby; Siegrist, Jack (2009). "Alligator Hunters, Pelt Traders, and Runaway Consumption of Gulf Coast Marshes: A Trophic Cascade Perspective on Coastal Wetland Losses". In Silliman, Brian R.; Grosholz, Edwin D.; Bertness, Mark D. (eds.). Human Impacts on Salt Marshes: A Global Perspective. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. pp. 115–133. ISBN 978-0-520-25892-1. LCCN 2008048366.
  19. ^ "Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 2003 – Schedule 2 Prohibited new organisms". New Zealand Legislation. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  20. ^ Chai, Jong-Yil; Murrell, K. Darwin; Lymbery, Alan J. (October 2005). "Fish-borne parasitic zoonoses: Status and issues". International Journal for Parasitology. 35 (11–12): 1233–1254. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.013. PMID 16143336. S2CID 39281434.
  21. ^ "Identification of Invasive Alien Species using DNA barcodes" (PDF). Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  22. ^ "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern". ec.europa.eu. European Commission. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species". Official Journal of the European Union. 57 (L 317): 35–55. November 4, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Attenborough, David (2002). The Life of Mammals. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-11324-6.
  25. ^ Attenborough, David (December 11, 2002). "Chisellers". The Life of Mammals. BBC One.
  26. ^ "The Muskrat". Hamilton Harbour. McMaster University. Archived from the original on April 22, 2007.
  27. ^ Heptner, V. G.; Naumov, N. P., eds. (1998). Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol. II Part 1a, Sirenia and Carnivora (Sea Cows, Wolves and Bears). Enfield, New Hampshire: Science Publishers. ISBN 1-886106-81-9.
  28. ^ Smith, Murray R. (May 1982). "Science for the Native Orientated Classroom". Journal of American Indian Education. Arizona State University. 21 (3): 13–17. JSTOR 24397307. S2CID 151033740. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  29. ^ Musgrave, Philip L. (December 5, 2004). "How the Muskrat Created the World". Muskrat's Den. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
  30. ^ Apicius (2012) [1977]. Vehling, Joseph Dommers (ed.). Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome. New York: Dover Publications. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-486-15649-1. LCCN 77089410.
  31. ^ Lukowski, Kristin (March 8, 2007). "Muskrat love: Friday Lent delight for some OKed as fish alternative". Catholic Online. Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  32. ^ Broverman, Alison (April 19, 2019). "Why Detroit's Catholics can eat muskrat on Fridays during Lent". CBC Radio. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  33. ^ Ciardi, John (1983). On Words (Podcast). NPR. {{cite podcast}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  34. ^ "RCMP Muskrat Winter Cap". williamscully.ca. William Scully Ltd. February 9, 2005. Retrieved June 9, 2015.

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Muskrat: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. It has important effects on the ecology of wetlands, and is a resource of food and fur for humans.

Adult muskrats weigh 0.6–2 kg (1+1⁄4–4+1⁄2 lb), with a body length (excluding the tail) of 20–35 cm (8–14 in). They are covered with short, thick fur of medium to dark brown color. Their long tails, covered with scales rather than hair, are their main means of propulsion. Muskrats spend most of their time in the water and can swim under water for 12 to 17 minutes. They live in families, consisting of a male and female pair and their young. To protect themselves from the cold and from predators, they build nests that are often burrowed into the bank with an underwater entrance. Muskrats feed mostly on cattail and other aquatic vegetation but also eat small animals.

Ondatra zibethicus is the only extant species in the genus Ondatra and tribe Ondatrini. It is the largest species in the subfamily Arvicolinae, which includes 142 other species of rodents, mostly voles and lemmings. Muskrats are referred to as "rats" in a general sense because they are medium-sized rodents with an adaptable lifestyle and an omnivorous diet. They are not, however, members of the genus Rattus. They are not closely related to beavers, with which they share habitat and general appearance.

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