Facts about Muskrats
It is the only species in genus Ondatra. They can swim under water for upto 15 minutes. Muskrat is infact a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent. They have long tails which are covered with scales rather than hair and are flattened vertically to aid them in swimming. When they walk on land the tail drags on the ground, which makes their tracks easy to recognize. Their fur has two layers, which helps protect them from the cold water. In several Native American creation myths it is the muskrat who dives to the bottom of the primordial sea to bring up the mud from which the earth is created, after other animals had failed in the task. The muskrat's name comes from the two scent glands which are found near its tail; they give off a strong "musky" odor which the muskrat uses to mark its territory. Despite being only slightly longer than the brown rat, the muskrat weighs about four times the weight of brown rat. Its weight range is 0.7 to 1.8 kg. They do not store food for the winter, but sometimes eat the insides of their lodges or steal food that beavers have stored. They spend most of their time in water, their bodies, like those of seals and whales, are less sensitive to the build up of carbon dioxide than those of most other mammals. It is native to North America. Contrary to popular belief, they are not rats. Their hind feet are semi-webbed to help them swim. An archaic name in English for the animal is musquash, derived from the Abenaki native word mòskwas. In less cold environments young muskrats mature in 6 months, while in colder northern environments it takes about a year. Plant materials make up about 95 percent of their diets, but they also eat small animals such as freshwater mussels, frogs, crayfish, fish, and small turtles. An adult muskrat is about 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) long, almost half of that tail. Their babies are born small and hairless and weigh only about 22 grams (0.8 oz). They can close off their ears to keep the water out while in water. Muskrat spends much of their time in the water. Muskrats, like most rodents, are prolific breeders. Females can have 2 to 3 litters a year of 6 to 8 young each. |
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