Muskrat Love

Most muskrats are loners like this one was. But on a midsummer night I have often come across a couple muskrats frolicking and having fun together just as the sun sets and the mosquitoes come out.

Muskrat Lodge

Muskrat Suzie and Muskrat Sam weren't doing the Jitterbug in Muskrat Land the other day---with the weather about to turn they were snug in their lodge in the middle of the marsh.

Four years ago there were over 20 lodges in this marsh---last year there was none---this year I'm glad to see two. Perhaps there is a hint of a cycle here.  

Muskrat Sam

One lone muskrat took advantage of the warmer weather at the marsh to fix up under water entrances to his home.

Muskrat Family

From the archives:

A few years ago there was a muskrat boom at the Grand Kankakee Marsh. The living was easy for the little critters; full of cattails and aquatics to eat. There were lodges everywhere in the marsh.

One day, towards the end of winter, I came across this family taking part in the mid-day warmth of the sun. The smallest members of the family were heavily guarded up on top of the hut, while older members swam around, grabbed some weeds, and had a nibble.

At one point one of the babies on the hut got too comfortable sleeping and rolled off. What a commotion it caused as the older ones rushed to the rescue and got the baby back up to safety!

This year's lodge population is still low; nothing compared to the year the photo was taken. The boom apparently created a food shortage; the cattails still haven't recovered. Hopefully, when they do, there will be other opportunities to view these fun creatures.   

Love a Muskrat

Muskrats are plentiful in the wetlands and swamps that are part of the Kankakee River flood plain.

In early spring or late winter, on the first warmer days of the year, you might be able to spot a whole family basking in the warming rays of the sun on top of their lodges.

And contrary to the song Muskrat Love, if you come across a pair in the swamp on some summer evening, you are more likely to witness a fight. They will mutter to each other. They will box with their tiny paws. And the sorry loser will move off in the opposite direction muttering and chirping all the way.