Muskrat Behavior And Habits

Muskrat Removal | Understanding Muskrats And Their Behavior

Explore the intriguing lives of muskrats and uncover essential details about their unique behaviors and lifestyles.

Benefits Of Muskrats

Muskrats are essential to the food web, serving as a significant food source for various predators, particularly minks, which depend greatly on them. They also function as natural architects within their ecosystems, with their abandoned burrows providing habitats for countless other species. A diverse array of animals, such as snakes, turtles, ducks, and wading birds, take advantage of muskrat lodges. Moreover, by foraging on aquatic vegetation, muskrats help create open water spaces that are crucial for waterfowl and wading birds, thereby increasing the biodiversity within their environments.

When Muskrats Become A Nuisance

Muskrats can pose challenges due to their extensive burrowing along pond banks, leading to considerable damage. Furthermore, these animals can harbor tularemia, a disease humans may contract through handling infected carcasses or ingesting contaminated food or water. Symptoms typically appear within three to five days after exposure and may include fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and diarrhea. Thankfully, tularemia is treatable with antibiotics, and it is crucial to remember that it does not spread from person to person.

Appearance

Muskrats are sizable aquatic rodents measuring up to 2 feet in length including their tails, and weighing up to 4 pounds. Their fur is usually dark brown, with a lighter underside. They possess small eyes and ears, short front legs, and longer hind legs, along with five clawed toes on each foot; their back feet are webbed, making them well-adapted for aquatic life.

Habits

They are typically nocturnal, but may occasionally be spotted during the day. Muskrats generally lead solitary lives but may come together to den in winter. If food becomes scarce, they can exhibit aggression toward one another. Unlike some animals, muskrats do not hibernate and typically do not stockpile food for the winter months.

Reproduction

Muskrats typically breed between March and September, with the majority of their offspring arriving from April to June. The gestation period lasts between 25 and 30 days, and females usually give birth to two or three litters annually, each containing an average of three to six young.

Diet

Muskrats primarily thrive on a herbivorous diet, primarily consuming aquatic plants like the roots and stems of cattails, lilies, sedges, and grasses. While their main food sources are plant-based, they may also occasionally indulge in mussels, shrimp, and small fish.

How We Remove Muskrats

Muskrat removal requires a strategic approach due to their semi-aquatic habitat, burrowing behavior, and tendency to cause shoreline and structural damage. At D&K Pest Control & Wildlife Removal, our muskrat control process focuses on identifying active animals, addressing burrow systems, and reducing conditions that allow muskrats to return.

1. Site Evaluation & Activity Assessment

Every muskrat service begins with an on-site inspection to evaluate:

Active burrows along pond banks, shorelines, and embankments

Tunnels extending into dams, retention areas, or drainage systems

Signs of feeding damage and erosion

Water level changes caused by muskrat activity

This assessment allows us to determine the scope of the problem and the safest removal strategy.

2. Strategic Muskrat Trapping

When removal is necessary, muskrats are captured using species-specific trapping methods placed along travel routes and active burrow entrances. Trapping locations are carefully selected to:

Target active muskrats

Minimize disruption to surrounding wildlife

Reduce the risk of further shoreline collapse or erosion

All trapping methods follow applicable Illinois wildlife regulations.

3. Population Reduction & Ongoing Monitoring

Muskrats often live in pairs or small groups, and multiple animals may be present even if only one is visible. Our process includes:

Monitoring activity levels

Adjusting trap placement as needed

Continuing removal until muskrat activity has ceased

This ensures the problem is fully resolved, not temporarily reduced.

4. Burrow Identification & Damage Mitigation

Once muskrat activity is controlled, we identify affected areas where burrows have weakened banks or structures. While removal stops the damage, addressing burrows and erosion is critical to prevent future issues.

We provide recommendations for:

Shoreline stabilization

Burrow collapse or repair

Water level and habitat management

5. Prevention & Long-Term Solutions

Muskrat control is most effective when paired with prevention strategies. Depending on the site, we may recommend:

Habitat modification to reduce attractants

Monitoring programs for recurring activity

Ongoing wildlife management solutions for ponds and waterways

Our goal is long-term protection, not repeat damage.

Why Professional Muskrat Removal Matters

Improper muskrat control can lead to:

Repeated burrowing and erosion

Continued flooding or drainage issues

Structural damage to pond banks and dams

Incomplete removal of active animals

Professional removal ensures the issue is handled safely, effectively, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

Schedule Professional Muskrat Removal Today

Muskrat burrowing can weaken shorelines, pond banks, and drainage systems. Contact D&K Pest Control & Wildlife Removal to schedule a professional muskrat inspection and safe, effective removal.

Call Now