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Home My WebLink AboutApril 10, 2003 - Meet the reclusive muskrat The Suffolk Times ��April 10, 2003 ee ' e ree us �ve mus ra � �� < � � � � � � �� '�. � t �` :� � ��° � �� g y� ':a. �� d ��.�� ;: ��' .M � �� ' '� � �V ._� ; � F � >� €� ' '� � r �- .w„,.,,�a"�F � �a �w ..�" �x p ; � �• :' � � � � a�`�� '��_ � k�� p ,•� �°' �` Most of the �� '"'m w ' muskrats on �! ��J, � �'"� �, F the north � .��„ � , ��< . :.•'` ��,�,, �:.,�t�, � -�.� i shore make �c��`,� = ,�, c� �� „� t � � �;� A;� �� their under- "..�,�,��:� s��`y 3�,�- �, .. �� ground homes �,�;;�� In the banks ��` �� ° ° `�..;��a ��#�`� "�� !�� of our creeks. �� ` � .:� ��;,�� ,� '��+ ,F��; "� �< Some builsi �r `'� ` � �:� '�� '"��' '�*'�.� � �` . ��'` \�� = lodges in fresh- " � ..�I� �, � �c.. �;�r� .,` .,��y \,." ,�,�-�� "� ,�-.��' � � <,,� �" water swamps � �,��" � -�'��`�° ��; �"" and ponds. R -�'�E � �� ,��, � ,�� Here we see a ' - ;� � �p �� ' goose on its ,.�"��` ��'` r� � �s::�� .,��,,� � nest taking , �'�k�,��q� � �,��.' advantage of "� �� '�� '�, '�� `° � � � this muskrat � � � �� ~� � � �� lodge just east ��'►�.�� < � �' of Greenport. �, � �. � ..�,�;� „��., " el � �� ; Times/Review �"', �: '�_ �:� phota b �r r' Y �,� �,-. �>� a?, �. ., f ��'= Paul Stoutenburgh r�`� � �: �' � ; MY Eatu.tEST FxYrxi�Nc�,with I also remember that not muskrats was when I was in high only muskrats were trapped school.In those days dollars were but usually under every mighty tight and one way to get a little farm building there were spending money was to trap muskrats.I skunks.In those early days, must say I wasn't a very good trapper, skunks were quite common but I did catch a few.I remember when around here.Today there I struggled skinning them there was an are no skunks on the North Fork due odd odor,which is probably to the use of pesticides.I remember a where the name came from: fellow back then who specialized in "musk"rat. tra ing skunks.You could always tell FoCus ON NATURE by Paul Stoutenburgh There is something very special about muskrats and beavers.It is their The muskrat is a superb swimmer ability to chew under water.Anyone and if you are quiet when you enter else who tries this,including man, the upper reaches of our creeks,you would get their nose,throat and mouth might just see one swimming.As it full of water and have to give up.Not when he had a good day trapping moves along you'll see just the top of the muskrat or beaver;these animals because when he came to school there its head and nose out of the water. can shut off a special passageway just was an odor about him that told of the Trailing behind,leaving a V-shaped behind the teeth that enables them to success of his early-morning venture. wake,is its long,flat,hairless tail that chew underwater without drowning. Today muskrat pelts are still in acts as a rudder.Often they sit on a This is unique to these animals. demand and probably rank No.1 in favorite spot to eat the reener or the fur trade that still goes on,particu- �---� March,April and May are the time root they have just pulled out of the of year that muskrats look for their larly in the more rural back country. water.I remember people in Bayview lady fair.They fight fiercely any com- Muskrats are found nationwide telling me they have muskrats that from the East Coast to the West come right up on their lawn to eat the Petition that tries to take over.Sur- Coast,from the Gulf of Mexico to the grass and clover.Some people have all vival of the fittest is truly played out Arctic.In the majority of those areas, the luck, here.Less than a month after mating, you'll find the muskrats mainly at A common misconception is that between five and 10 young are born home in fresh water:ponds,swamps muskrats are related to beavers,which blind and stay in the lodge or bank and wetlands of all kinds.It's there th they are not.They are more like a burrow for two to three weeks.Here cattail,which makes up its principal giant meadow mouse that has ada ted they are nursed and fed,and by the source of food,grows. p end of the third week the young start to its watery surroundings.Like those On the North and South forks we of the squirrel,the muskrat's front taking short trips out into their watery world. feet are small and used for holding In six weeks' time the juveniles are don't have the vast res water wet- food and the im ortant 'ob of di �n�. lands that the other parts of the coun- p � gg � competing with the adults and squab- The hind feet are much larger and thc bling can be heard.And so we find try enjoy and so our muskrats seek out toes are covered with thick hairs,mak- the headwaters of our creeks where these unique rodents in any one of freshwater and saltwater mingle.Here, ing them resemble paddles,and main- our many creeks.Right now we can ly used in swimming. in place of the familiar muskrat lodge My son,who travels Sound Avenue tell the young are out looking for a that can reach three feet or more in new world to conquer and new water- height,the muskrat tunnels into the �ery day to work,told me there was ways to explore,for I've seen two of banks and digs his under- a pair of muskrats in the pond on the them dead on the highway.It's surpris- ground home there.The south side of the road at Baiting ing how far they will roam in pursuit entrance is always underwa- Hollow,just before the church.Of of a new home. ter,whether it is a lodge or a course,we had to check it out.When Muskrats have few enemies,man burrow in the bank. �'e got there,we pulled up by the being the biggest problem,but a hawk For those who stalk our Pond and sat in the car and watched or an owl might occasionally take an creeks looking for eels and and waited.Sure enough,we soon saw unsuspecting one.Dogs and foxes will crabs or just for the pleasure a muskrat swimming with something often try to dig their way into a burrow of being there,you have in its mouth.Whether he was bringing but usually with little success.The probably noticed these it back to his underground burrow in young are sometimes taken by snap- un erwater entrances with the cluster the bank or to his favorite eating spot ping turtles.It's man with his invasion of broken mussel shells around them. I don't know.It just goes to prove if into the muskrat's habitat and his igno- Althou h the ma'orit of food the you keep your eyes open,you,too, , g J Y rance as to its place in our creeks that s muskrat consumes is made u of might see one. P doing the most harm to the muskrat. plants,roots,grasses and sedges,they �e fur of a muskrat is made up of Hopefully the muskrat is here to also eat small fish plus mussels and two layers,a coarse outside layer of stay,provided we don't destroy its other shellfish that they might come hair and then underneath a thick, habitat.They are part of the system across in their travels.They have two heavy,waterproof layer of fur that that makes the world a wondrous very sharp,chisel-like teeth on top and keeps it warm throughout the winter, place to be.And so,if you see this bottom,which enable them to cut off When muskrats are still active.Often slow swimmer with its long tail trailing tough roots and get into the occasional they'll swim under the ice for food. behind enjoy its presence,for it's not shellfish. We're told they can hold their breath often seen,even by those who live for at least 15 minutes,long enough to near its hidden burrow. cut off a root and get back to their lod e or burrow with it.