# Muskrat (*Ondatra zibethicus*) Muskrats are furry animals that love to live near water. They are great swimmers and build cozy homes called lodges using plants and mud. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 59 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Ondatra, Water Rat ![Muskrat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426559/objects/98.jpg) ## Appearance The Muskrat has a stocky, brownish-red body with a lighter belly and small ears. Its most distinctive features are its long, flattened, and nearly hairless tail, and its partially webbed hind feet for swimming. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Cricetidae - **Genus:** Ondatra ## Interesting facts - Baby muskrats, called 'kits,' are born blind and hairless but grow incredibly fast to survive! - Muskrats are so agile underwater, they can even swim backward to escape predators! - Muskrats build dome-shaped homes called 'lodges' from mud and plants, looking like mini beaver dams! - Their powerful incisor teeth never stop growing, which means they must constantly chew to keep them short! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Explorer:** Muskrat can hold its breath for up to 17 minutes, allowing it to forage for food and escape predators underwater. - **Hydrodynamic Swimmer:** Muskrat has partially webbed hind feet and a flat, rudder-like tail that help them swim quickly and steer efficiently. - **Waterproof Coat:** Muskrat has dense, oily fur that keeps it warm and dry in icy water, which helps them survive cold climates. - **Underwater Muncher:** Muskrat can close its lips behind its front teeth, allowing them to gnaw on plants underwater without swallowing water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-65 cm - **Weight:** 0.6-2 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-4 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-8 - **Gestation:** 28-30 days ## Diet & Feeding Muskrats primarily munch on aquatic plants but also enjoy small critters like mussels and crayfish. - **Primary Foods:** Cattails, Water lilies, Sedges, Mussels, Crayfish, Small fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Mink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-mink) (*Neogale vison*) — A primary predator of muskrats near water. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Owls often snatch muskrats from the land or water's edge. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes hunt muskrats, especially when they are on land. - **Eats:** Broadleaf Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Muskrats consume the roots and stems of this common plant. - **Eats:** [Giant Floater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-floater) (*Anodonta grandis*) — Muskrats crack open mussels they find at the bottom. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild animals like muskrats. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Muskrat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Muskrat? 45-65 cm ### How much does Muskrat weigh? 0.6-2 kg ### How long does Muskrat live? 3-4 years ### How fast can Muskrat move? 5 km/h ### What does Muskrat eat? Muskrats primarily munch on aquatic plants but also enjoy small critters like mussels and crayfish. ### Where is Muskrat usually found? Wetlands ### How does Muskrat hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Duke Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/duke-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Gary City Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gary-city-center-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Grist Mill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grist-mill-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/humboldt-alexander-von-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Kirk Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kirk-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/muskrat) ## Watch - [Play video: Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/videos/muskrat) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=U1xG6UUBkiI) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Muskrat: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat)