MUSKRAT CONTROL

   This article is about nuisance MUSKRATS. It will 
explain why they can be a pest and what needs to be done 
to stop damaging burrowing. PLEASE NOTE: YOU CAN SEE PICTURES 
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   Muskrats are found in just about every state of the union 
including small areas of Florida and California. The name
"Muskrat" is derived from their scent glands, located on the
ventral base of their tail, which is used to mark territories
during breeding season. This scent can be strong and people
generally find it offensive. It is common to have such scent
marked on homes, sheds, bank dens, boat docks and other areas
where muskrat are active. Muskrat are small compared to beaver.
The average size is 18" to 24", but some have been known to
grow over 30" long. Muskrat don't live too long; their average
life is 2-3 years. Gestation is 25 - 35 days and females in
the southern part of the country will produce more than 6 litters
a year.
   Muskrat are aquatic. They like to live in ponds, streams, lakes,
rivers, roadside ditches and just about anywhere water can collect
for periods of time. They will use plants for building dens as
well as river banks; feeding dens, platforms and mounds are
also commonly constructed of vegetation when available. Muskrat
are generally vegetarians, but they will eat frogs, salamanders,
newts, crayfish, mussels and fish. They readily eat any healthy
plant such as cattail or horsetail and can delete much of
the plant life in small ponds or lakes if allowed to do so.
   Muskrat populations are subject to large change based on
both food supply and predatory presence. Since they can 
reproduce quickly, populations will rebound following
a killing flood or regional outbreak of disease. Many areas
of the country may not notice them at all and then the following
year wonder where they all came from! Raccoon, fox, coyote, 
snapping turtles and even certain species of fish all find
young muskrat tasty and won't pass up such a meal if presented.
Though largely nocturnal, muskrat can be seen at dusk or dawn.
Referred to as "water rats" by many, this animal is capable of
two kinds of damage.
   The most common type of damage muskrat commit is in the
garden. Being largely vegetarian, they will find the best plants
and eat them during the night. Many a garden has been ruined
by browsing muskrat protected by darkness. Though you can
try sitting out all night to shoot these invaders, you will
quickly learn this is not a practical method of stopping them.
There are two things you can do to stop browsing damage.
The first is to treat plants you want to protect with a liquid
repellent called ROPEL. This material is odorless but tastes
bitter. Sprayed plants will be ignored by muskrat; they will
be forced to find food elsewhere. Treatments will last up
to 6 weeks depending on weather. Once they learn your garden
has food which tastes "bad", they will move on to greener
pastures and learn to feed elsewhere. If food supplies are
limited around your property, you may be forced to trap
the active muskrat. This can be done with an assortment
of traps. If you prefer to live trap it, use a LT7824,
which measures 7" x 8" x 24". This is generally big enough to handle 
any muskrat you may have and the 1/2" by 1" mesh insures that
even young small animals won't be able to escape. Bait it
with some of our special MUSKRAT BAIT. They love this stuff
and it will work every time. Place 1-2 teaspoons on the
trip pan of the trap and just a dab at the entrance. The
placement at the entrance will direct them to where they
need to in order to enter the trap. Make your sets in the 
evening and relocate the animals at least 10 miles away.
   Muskrat can also cause damage which is more serious than
eating desirable plants. Their burrows can lead to dramatic
problems with water levels including runoff, leaks and
unwanted flooding. Dens can go unnoticed for long
periods of time. Be sure to inspect shore lines when you can.
For many regions, this may be in the winter months or
during dry spells when water levels drop. Be sure to fill
empty dens with dirt and make sure dams have not sustained
enough damage to cause them to break. If left unchecked,
populations of muskrat can cause massive problems with
water levels. To handle populations which are large or
if you want to trap muskrat as a sport, the use of both
BODYGRIP and LEGHOLD traps will be the most efficient
traps to use. If you are a beginner, we recommend getting
our MUSKRAT TRAPPING HANDBOOK as well. This guide will
help explain where, how and the best sets you can make
along watersheds, ponds, rivers or anywhere you want to
trap muskrat. Furriers have trapped more muskrat than
any other animal and leghold longspring traps have caught
the majority. Since it's introduction, the Bodygrip has
become the favorite of most trappers. The difference is
that the bodygrip is a true kill trap. It needs to be set
at den openings, muskrat runs (trails along shoreline or
stream beds where muskrat travel where you can see
the path) and culverts. There are many other sets that
can be used as muskrat are easy to trap and the
set you use is limited only to your imagination.
   Leghold traps can be just as easy to use and will
enable you to make even more sets than the Bodygrip.
Make sets on feeding mounds, shoreline or where you
know there is activity such as in your garden. The
longspring or the coil design will work well. These
sets can be baited and you can even use some MUSKRAT LURE
to make territorial sets. These will generally attract
local muskrats and will get them by appealing to their
marking and territory scenting instinct. Again, our
handbook gets into detail of how to make these sets.
   If you have even larger populations to control, the
use of COLONY TRAPS can prove to be helpful. These are
set along runs and will catch unknowing muskrat which
will literally enter as they move about. Once inside,
they can't escape. Set these along pathways you know
they are using. Colony traps are limited in the type
of setting where they can be used but could prove to
be helpful when trying to control local populations
which have grown too large and where making simple
sets over vast areas is needed.
   Muskrat can become quite a problem in urban areas when
they decide to feed on local gardens and plants which are 
needed for lakes and ponds. Their burrows can cause water
to run off at alarming rates upsetting delicate balances
of ecosystems. Spray Ropel on plants you want to protect.
Live trap if you have a small number of animals which
are causing the problem. Employ Bodygrip and leghold
traps if you are having to control large numbers or if
you want to trap for sport. Colony traps can prove helpful
when dealing with large numbers as well. Our Muskrat book
should be able to assist you in learning many sets needed
for the different environments you are likely to encounter.
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by clicking on their names in the article. We have
established links to our catalog directly where you
will be able to see them as well as learn more about
how to use them and how to order from us. You can 
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