Muskrats are semi-aquatic rodents found in North American wetlands and waterways. They build lodges from vegetation or burrows in banks with underwater entrances for shelter. Primarily herbivores, muskrats consume aquatic plants like cattails, sedges, and water lilies, occasionally eating small aquatic animals when plant food is scarce.
Understanding Muskrat Behavior
Muskrats are shy and typically avoid human interaction. They flee or dive underwater when threatened. They are most active at dawn and dusk, minimizing human encounters.
Despite their timid nature, muskrats can act defensively. They may bite or scratch if cornered, protecting young, or injured or sick. Unprovoked attacks on humans are rare.
Health Risks from Muskrats
Direct contact with muskrats, especially through bites, can pose health risks. A muskrat bite can be painful and carries an infection risk from mouth bacteria. Prompt cleaning of any bite wound is important to prevent complications.
Muskrats can transmit diseases to humans, though transmission risk varies. Tularemia, or “rabbit fever,” is a bacterial infection muskrats can carry. Humans can contract tularemia through contact with contaminated water, infected animal tissue, or, less commonly, bites. Symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms, and infected sores.
Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira bacteria, is another disease muskrats can transmit. It spreads through contact with muskrat urine or other bodily fluids (excluding saliva) contaminating water or soil. Infection occurs if contaminated water or soil contacts broken skin, mucous membranes, or through ingestion. Symptoms of leptospirosis range from mild, flu-like illness to more severe conditions affecting organs.
Rabies, a viral disease affecting the central nervous system, is rare in muskrats but possible. According to the CDC, rodents and lagomorphs account for a small percentage of rabies cases. Any bite from a wild animal warrants medical evaluation for potential rabies exposure.
Safe Interactions and Prevention
Observe muskrats from a distance and avoid direct contact. Never approach, feed, or handle a muskrat, as this can provoke a defensive reaction. If an encounter occurs, remain calm and allow the muskrat space to retreat.
If a muskrat bite or scratch occurs, immediate action is important. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water for several minutes. After cleaning, apply an antiseptic solution and cover the wound with a sterile bandage. Seek medical attention promptly, even for minor bites, to assess infection and disease transmission risk and receive appropriate treatment.
Several methods can deter muskrats from residential areas. Reducing preferred aquatic vegetation near property makes the area less attractive. Installing physical barriers, like fencing extending above ground and below water, can prevent burrowing. Commercial repellents, including motion-activated sprinklers or scents like fox or coyote urine, may discourage muskrats from settling.