Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
The Muskrat is a medium sized rodent frequently seen in parks with lakes or rivers around Montreal. They build burrows with an underwater entrance along the banks of rivers, streams or lakes.
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Taxonomy
Mammalia > Rodentia > Cricetidae > Arvicolinae
Names in different Languages
| German | Bisamratte |
| English | Muskrat |
| French | Rat musqué |
| Spanish | Rata almizclera |
How to Identify
When swimming, I can easily wrongly identified Muskrats as beavers. But once, having seen a beaver, I use the size as a distinguishable characteristics. Further, the shape of the tail and how the animal uses the tail to swim allows me to identify this animal. I rarely see beavers active at daylight, in opposition to Muskrats which I frequently observe during the day.
Where When to Spot
Muskrats can be spotted all year long except winter in wetlands along ponds, lakes, rivers or streams. Best opportunities to observe Muskrats are during early spring in Rapids Park Lachine. With low vegetation it is easier to spot them.
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc Angrignon | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Parc de la Frayère | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Parc des Rapides | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Number of times a species has been observed, identified, and recorded. A species is reported only once per visit to a park.
Photos of Muskrat
