Muskrats.....

[pass-thru]

I have only ever caught one on purpose (blocked off a flow with bodygripper in middle). I have caught a number of others over the years in pockets for coon and bottom edge for beaver and otter.

The pond on our farm is close to 40 years old. I was 4 years old when it was stocked with fish and I remember that. There have been beaver I think on 3 separate occasions. Back in the 80's, in 07, then and again in 11. But late last spring I saw the first ever sign of muskrats....burrows where the ground over dens had collapsed maybe 10' off the water line. This summer the water level dropped about 10' and exposed the den entrance...and it is big. I might think it was for beaver except I already know it's muskrat and it's at the shallow end, the beaver always put there dens where the water is deep.

Well tonight at twilight I saw one of the buggers swimming around for the first time. Did not seem scared of being standing at the water's edge, although he did not come close. I had assumed they had been ate out by predators already.

Looks like I will have to set for them this winter. They can do a lot of damage especially if they start digging in the dam.

 

[pressfit]

I've trapped a semi load of them back in the 80's.. now they are all but extinct around here.. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw one....

 

[Trapper]

Look for dirty water along the pond edges for a hidden entrance to the den . If you can find their runs set a colony trap , I've caught 4 at a time in them before . I found a swamp a few years ago that was loaded with them ,they had built huts and there was feed beds everywhere. Good luck in catching them.