Muskrats are common semi-aquatic rodents found across North America. These mammals typically weigh between 0.6 and 2 kilograms (about 1.3 to 4.5 pounds) and have a body length of 20 to 35 centimeters (8 to 14 inches), excluding their tail. They are identifiable by their dense, dark brown fur and a long, vertically flattened, scaly tail that can be almost as long as their body.
Muskrat Habitat and Lifestyle
Muskrats primarily inhabit marshes, wetlands, ponds, rivers, and lakes, thriving in areas with stable water levels and abundant aquatic vegetation. They are adept swimmers and divers, able to remain submerged for 12 to 20 minutes.
They construct dome-shaped lodges from vegetation and mud in open water or dig burrows with underwater entrances into banks. These provide shelter from predators and cold. Muskrats mainly forage for aquatic plants like cattails, sedges, and water lilies, which constitute about 95% of their diet. They occasionally supplement their diet with small aquatic animals such as mussels, crayfish, or frogs.
Assessing Muskrat Climbing Abilities
Muskrats are generally not tree climbers due to their physical characteristics and adaptations for an aquatic and burrowing lifestyle. Their bodies are stout and compact, with short limbs, making them less agile for vertical climbing on tree trunks. Their front feet are smaller and adapted for digging, while their large hind feet are partially webbed with stiff hairs, designed for efficient swimming rather than gripping.
While muskrats can climb steep banks, small shrubs, or low-lying vegetation, and may occasionally scale fences, sustained tree climbing is highly uncommon. Instances of muskrats in trees are rare, often driven by unusual environmental pressures like high water levels or flooding. In such cases, they might climb a meter or two above ground to seek refuge or find higher ground. Young muskrats might also exhibit occasional climbing behavior as they explore their surroundings.
Movement Beyond Tree Climbing
Muskrats exhibit efficient movement within their preferred aquatic environments. Their partially webbed hind feet serve as the main propulsion, while their vertically flattened tail acts as a rudder for steering in water. They can swim at speeds up to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) per hour. On land, muskrats move more slowly, typically walking or waddling, and are not particularly agile.
Beyond swimming, muskrats are skilled burrowers, using their strong front claws to excavate dens along riverbanks. These burrows often have multiple underwater entrances leading to dry chambers above the water level. Muskrats also create “push-ups” or feeding platforms from vegetation, particularly in winter, allowing them to access food under ice.