MUSKRAT

The muskrat is the most valuable fur animal in the state of Virginia. Each year many thousands are trapped for pelts that range in price from S4.50 to $7.00, depending upon color, black being the choice of fur buyers. Throughout the South, the flesh of the muskrat is prized; at least eighty percent of the captured animal meat is consumed as food.

Many tales have been told of muskrats chewing their feet off to escape a trap. These stories are untruths brought about by the fact that the old-style leg traps would occasionally break a bone and the animal would twist its foot off. Nature has a remarkable curative power though: the writer has seen muskrats with only one foot, the three stubs being healed, and the animal as fat as the proverbial "butterball". Since modern traps kill instantly, this problem seldom exists except in isolated areas where old-style traps are still used.

After a gestation period of about one month, the female generally bears five to ten babies in three separate litters each year. When the young are weaned, they are driven out to survive, if possible, for many are taken by hawks, snakes, weasels, raccoons or even large bass.

Marsh rats build a dome-shaped house of reeds, cattails and roots, but stream muskrats burrow into banks to establish homes. Many muskrat lodges can be seen in the Jamestown marshes.

Wildlife Neighbors Home Page