Muskrat Love

This week, we received an animal not often seen around Northeast Ohio. A Muskrat was brought in to our Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Program from Macedonia, OH. She was dehydrated, emaciated and showed signs of neurological damage. We have been able to re-hydrate her and she is eating. However, the neurological damage does not seem to be improving. We are continuing to hold out hope for her recovery but if her symptoms do not improve soon we may need to euthanize her.

Although Muskrats often go unseen, they can be found through most of North America. They tend to be elusive because they are nocturnal and mostly aquatic animals that live in marshes, rivers, ponds and lakes. They are excellent swimmers and can stay under water for up to 15 minutes. The majority of their diet is aquatic plant material but they will also eat some small animals like crayfish and frogs.

Muskrats have been trapped for centuries for their fur, which is extremely soft. However the biggest threat to their population is habitat loss. - Amy LeMonds, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist