What Do Muskrats Eat? Unbelievable List Of Foods And Fun Facts

One of the most common wild animals about which we can learn more is muskrats.

In the US, we will find large families of rodents living near water bodies all over the country. These animals are a ubiquitous sight found in rural and suburban streams, rivers, and lakes.

We all have come across or have seen muskrats in a few numbers, though maybe without even realizing it. These rodents might take up unwanted spaces, but there are few solutions that can be applied to entice them from taking up these spaces.

Muskrats, referred to as Ondatra zibethicus, are usually round, medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent species with short legs, native to wetlands throughout North America. They have a similar appearance as rats but they are not rats.

They look similar to creatures which belong to the Arvicolinae subfamily, like voles and lemmings. The mother muskrat gives birth to two to five litters of young muskrats every year. Baby muskrats are called kits.

Muskrats are considered pests sometimes as they tend to eat crops and destroy farms. After reading about the feeding habits of muskrats, also read about muskrat vs beaver and nutria vs muskrat.

What do muskrats eat in winter?

During winters, rodents like muskrats take up wetlands for their habitat, and they sometimes look like they have come with their whole colony.

Muskrats do not store food for their consumption in winter, unlike beavers. This species needs the consumption of fresh plants every day. Muskrats make channels in the mud to reach food from their house, under the ice.

Muskrat families huddle together to keep themselves warm during winter in their own lodges. While staying at their main lodges they become unable to find food underwater as their habitats get restricted due to ice coverings over their houses.

Do muskrats eat vegetables?

Yes, muskrats eat vegetables. They consume a large variety of food, but always have a preference for vegetables. If you own a vegetable garden, be careful, as muskrats may cause huge damage to them.

Muskrats feed on a wide range of items. They eat crops like wheat, oats, and rice. They can also eat grains, sorghum, sugarcane, and soybeans. You can also sometimes see them eating vegetation including the water lily, bermudagrass, clover, johnsongrass, and orchard grass. They sometimes feed on small animals too.

Do muskrats eat carrots?

Muskrats are herbivores, thus they love eating vegetables, corn, sugarcane, rice, and even carrots if they are readily available. They also eat small creatures along with vegetables.

Muskrats like peanut butter. If these animals are placed in a cage they can be provided peanut butter, lettuce, carrots, and cattails which prevent them from succumbing to dehydration.

Do muskrats eat zebra mussels?

These muskrats enjoy eating zebra mussels. An example is mussels from the Ohio River.

Some adult muskrats from the Ohio River had learned to drag these mussels out of the river and leave them to die on land. After mussels die, their shells open, and muskrats can eat the flesh inside these shells.

Zebra mussels have thin shells though, so muskrats probably can use their teeth to open these shells as another method of eating these mussels.

Do muskrats eat mussels?

The feeding habit of a muskrat depends on geographical areas.

The aquaculture industry has specific feeding activity which helps in their economic gain. Wild muskrats or muskrats who do not belong to this industry eat aquatic insects, crayfish, mussels, turtles, frogs, and fish in ponds, where they have scarce vegetation.

Do muskrats eat rabbits?

Muskrats consume meat, but from small-sized creatures like lizards, snails, fish, or salamanders.

They may also eat young birds, eggs, squirrels, raccoons, or small snakes. But they don't eat rabbits because of their size.

Do muskrats eat rats?

Muskrats are also referred to as rats and they feed on the meat of small rats sometimes. These are rodents that are medium in size and follow an omnivorous diet.

Muskrats are generally semi-aquatic creatures who prefer to live in places with water that may be about 4-7 ft (1.2-2.1 m) deep. They are found near water bodies, swamps, and marshes. They love to live in marshes as they are provided with good vegetation and are able to easily construct burrows with the help of their long claws.

Muskrats are considered nocturnal animals. Their most active times are during dusk and afternoon. They sleep in their nests or burrows which they construct using mud or vegetation or any marshy place where the land is partially submerged.

Muskrats seem like harmless creatures but can cause severe damage due to their habit of tunneling in the yard and in ponds. This causes embankments as well as barriers which leads to floods and in turn causes erosion. Muskrats damage both property as well as landscape.

Are muskrats aggressive? Yes, muskrats are aggressive creatures and even can be dangerous. They can even cause rabies.

They become aggressive when they feel threatened by other animals or even humans. They turn aggressive and try to protect themselves and their family. They try to avoid humans and may generally flee from you.

The primary way of getting rid of muskrats is by targeting them at the source; for example, by setting up traps at the entry point of dens or water runways. Setting up traps in your yard is another way to get rid of them. Another very useful method to get rid of them is placing baits with traps.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what do muskrats eat then take a look at where do muskrats live or do squirrels eat birds.