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02 tribune march 30 1988 muskrat common but not well known by art briggsjude except for trappers wildlife biologists and other wetland re searchers such as those involved with ducks unlimited few people really know much about one of ontarios most common marsh creatures the muskrat yet this semiaquatic socalled marsh rabbit is found in almost every lake river pond and swamp not only in this province but in all of north america little wonder an animal having such a widespread distribution and possessing such a rich coat is customarily referred to as the bread and butter article of the fur trade often averaging less than 5 a pelt this rat as the fur harves ters traditionally call it neverthe less contributes the lions share to an overall canadian fur industry valued at between 600 million and 1 billion annually no less valuable in the us where trappers in the state of michigan alone harvest 500000 of these animals each year mus krats are also good to eat many natural food devotees for example are just now finding out what our native people knew all along that muskrat and other wild meats are high protein low cholesterol food sources a little carein skinning and a soaking overnight in salt brine are all thats required they are best however during the autumn and winter months when the musk despite their large numbers muskrats are often over looked by nature watchers the small furry creatures are found in marshlands and their pelts are still co veted for the fur glands are constricted an interesting part of our wildlife about in shallow water or in mild but besides having a significant community winters rambling across wood- economic and dietary impact on they can often be seen in the land borders or snowfilled the lives of so many muskrats are warm weather months swimming ditches by midmay the first litters are already moving about in their bank burrows and the parents can be observed ferrying clumps of freshcut marsh grass to the dens where wetland areas support the necessary luxuriant growth of cattails rushes pond lillies and sedges muskrats have the poten tial for rapid population explo sions in such marshes winter densi ties of up to 35 individuals an acre are not uncommon along creeks and river banks 16 to 18 adults per mile is a heavy concentration due to a rapid breeding cycle which may result in three litters a season each with 5 or more young muskrat numbers often in crease to the point where they ex ceed the carrying capacity of their habitat because they are quarrelsome defensive animals against not only their neighbors but even their recent offspring vicious fighting breaks out when such high densities occur in the ensuing strife most adults become torn many juve niles are killed and some migrate as far as 8 miles to safety with razor sharp teeth a mus krat has the potential of inflicting a severe bite on anyone or any thing that stands in its way in cluding humans to confront or corner one of these big rats is courting disaster apart from human interfer ence this active amphibian must also face a number of natural pre- sfsf m 1 mi i ti0jb 30 to 60 off everday willy wonderful mlmtovowgo kmtamwqa teorboraugh scortxrouort ocwnivww kwmoftt thomnn dtndot mcrthom mm l22sfufl0oi 101 wrttvyt kssytciooq 63 lowrx msftftefi gomiot 7171vy9s mom st ft hatnom lj3u w da tors that share the same locale pike and snapping turtles attack the swimming young while mink are probably the adult muskrats greatest enemy horned owls and the larger hawks frequently include muskrats in their bill of fare as do foxes and coyotes when they encounter them away from their water home these uptothree pound adults are also susceptible to plagues of tularaemia when crowded condi tions occur with their robust form small beady eyes and long flat tails muskrats have other built in fea tures that are not so noticeable the short hidden ears are one as are the furred lips that close be hind the incissors allowing the animal to gnaw underwater while all legs are short the front feet are designed to grasp objects and the back feet are par tially webbed giving the animal trememdous thrust when swim ming all in all muskrats are an im portant part of our wetlands com munity whether they are build ing reed lodges that later help nesting ducks opening channels by feeding on waterplants or pro viding their flesh as food for other creatures the one big knock against the muskrat is its tunneling esca pades into earthfilled dams and other protected pond banks yet even these renegade marsh rab bits can be controlled with a few traps placed in the right locations the great appliance sale 51900 3 door isideoyside fridge 1 inglis 30 range c s5790o sh4900 csg79oo lm0 389m dishwasher s479 81900 669 mo range 92900 m 379 4 pc package price 2339 pah prtc white westinghouse 3 fridge i n imm i s819 stove mimidmi cimh 131900 58900 kelvinator i fridge jstjk2t 112900 stove mtoch dvutlm 1669 s629 prices effective while supply lasts free 6 month layaway quan tv 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