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Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat #1606816
11/21/09 12:51 AM
11/21/09 12:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Jonathan Offline OP
"Wilson"
Jonathan  Offline OP
"Wilson"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
While out with my camera today I thought I would document some muskrat activity in a cattail marsh for my Trapping Library, and to share with those on the forum who may not be familiar with these structures.

Winter muskrat houses, lodges or huts are built in the fall, and so are their feed beds or "push ups".They are often misread by new or beginning trappers as being one in the same. But they are completely different from each other.

In this type of habitat, the living quarters are much larger than the feed beds and are made primarily from cattail plant stock.

The huts in these examples are about 4-6 feet high and up to 8 feet in diameter. I have seen them much larger than these over the years in some Wisconsin marshes.







By contrast, the feed beds are significantly smaller and made up of finer vegetation - either from submergent aquatic vegetation, or from grasses and root stock sources on land adjacent to the water.

From a distance in this case, you can tell that they are different, mainly by their size, color, shape and the materials they are comprised of. Those pictured in the open water area are about 3 feet in diameter and 2-3 feet high.







This is a smaller one adjacent to the shoreline and was actively under construction. It appeared to be almost finished. It was about 2 feet in diameter and about 18" high.



If you look close enough, you can see the finer green vegetation and fresh chewings from tubers and stems.





Thought this might be a little helpful showing muskrat sign in a cattail marsh and how to tell the difference between both activities prior to ice up to get them through the winter in this northern habitat type.

Jonathan




Camera Gear: Canon EOS 7D-MK-II, Canon EF-S 10-22mm, EF 28-135mm, EF 100-400mm and EF 400mm lenses.



Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Jonathan] #1606818
11/21/09 12:53 AM
11/21/09 12:53 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 463
Central Illinois
N
Nathan Gunterman Offline
trapper
Nathan Gunterman  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 463
Central Illinois
Great post!

Last edited by Nathan Gunterman; 11/21/09 12:53 AM.
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Jonathan] #1606844
11/21/09 01:29 AM
11/21/09 01:29 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 493
Lake Co., Ohio
T
trapnfool Offline
trapper
trapnfool  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 493
Lake Co., Ohio
Great post as usual. Thanks for sharing Jonathan


Member: OSTA, NTA, FTA, Life NRA
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: trapnfool] #1606849
11/21/09 01:34 AM
11/21/09 01:34 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,005
Kentucky....14y/o
K9.Trapper Offline
trapper
K9.Trapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,005
Kentucky....14y/o
cool!


UTK member!
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: K9.Trapper] #1606882
11/21/09 02:12 AM
11/21/09 02:12 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
deerhunter65347 Offline
trapper
deerhunter65347  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
Here in missouri in my parts we dont have a lot of cattails But we have small sloughs. Here is a hut made from the surrounding material. It has one entrance.



In the next picture you can see a feed bed in the distance its made from the smaller material and has no entrances. Its surrounded by clear water and they have the bottom cleaned all around it from all the activity. They grab moss and all types of small material and pile it high.



In the next pic you can see the hut next to the bank and the feed bed in the distance



So even in our latitude the same principals apply. Thanks for all the info and great pics Jonathan



Coon Collector web site. http://www.cooncollector.com/
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: deerhunter65347] #1606935
11/21/09 03:44 AM
11/21/09 03:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Jonathan Offline OP
"Wilson"
Jonathan  Offline OP
"Wilson"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Tony, I saw your post on this topic a few days ago, but thought your post's title (headline) would be lost. I was going to add to it, but thought the gist of intent would be missed by most.

So.......I decided to introduce my northern view of their makeup. I couldn't relate to what your more southern structures were comprised of - they looked like feed beds to me up here without size descriptions, etc.

I've been after these beauties since I was an 8 year old in 1950, a little longer than most, with possibly the exception of T-man member "Actor" (aka Garry).

Jonathan



Camera Gear: Canon EOS 7D-MK-II, Canon EF-S 10-22mm, EF 28-135mm, EF 100-400mm and EF 400mm lenses.



Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Jonathan] #1606980
11/21/09 06:15 AM
11/21/09 06:15 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 229
Michigan
B
Balex1873 Offline
trapper
Balex1873  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 229
Michigan
Thanks for the posts guys, We just started targeting muskrats in the marsh this year. Up until now it's been all creek rats. The pics and descriptions are a big help.


Challenge your preconceptions or they will challenge you.
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Balex1873] #1606998
11/21/09 07:08 AM
11/21/09 07:08 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 51
MI
B
bennydog Offline
trapper
bennydog  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 51
MI
You sure do take some nice pictures.

Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: bennydog] #1607035
11/21/09 08:45 AM
11/21/09 08:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,381
Michigan Trappersaurus
Pelts Offline
trapper
Pelts  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,381
Michigan Trappersaurus
Jonathan,

This old bird really enjoyed this post. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.

Pelts


[Linked Image]
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Pelts] #1607130
11/21/09 10:32 AM
11/21/09 10:32 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
deerhunter65347 Offline
trapper
deerhunter65347  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
We dont get many around here that build the huts most of the time they are bank dens. But this area is pretty flat and they lack a good spot for a bank den.

They use sticks and some type of water weed to do the huts. But the push ups are all small vegitation.

LOL, they look just like a giant beaver castor mound! Jonathan I really appreciate your threads!



Coon Collector web site. http://www.cooncollector.com/
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: deerhunter65347] #1607138
11/21/09 10:41 AM
11/21/09 10:41 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
trapper
MnMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
Great post and photos....makes me want to set some traps there!


I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: MnMan] #1607241
11/21/09 12:19 PM
11/21/09 12:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Jonathan Offline OP
"Wilson"
Jonathan  Offline OP
"Wilson"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Thank you for your kind words.

The small feed bed still under construction got my juices motivated. This afternoon I am going to set up a trail camera near it in an attempt to capture a few videos of the activity there.

Will also look for additional sign related to this habitat - closer views of the chewings and digging on land.

Jonathan


Camera Gear: Canon EOS 7D-MK-II, Canon EF-S 10-22mm, EF 28-135mm, EF 100-400mm and EF 400mm lenses.



Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Jonathan] #1607261
11/21/09 12:29 PM
11/21/09 12:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 553
Iowa
Oldtoolsniper Offline
trapper
Oldtoolsniper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 553
Iowa
Nice write up and very nice photography


“Work hard! Millions on welfare depend on it!”
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Oldtoolsniper] #1607284
11/21/09 12:48 PM
11/21/09 12:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 711
IN
Jon A Offline
trapper
Jon A  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 711
IN
Thanks for the post....I have learned that I am one the begginers making that mistake. Thankyou for setting it straight!

Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Jon A] #1607350
11/21/09 01:36 PM
11/21/09 01:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
deerhunter65347 Offline
trapper
deerhunter65347  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
Here is a catch from today in the runs running from feed beds to the hut. The first 2 pics show the run with trap in the run. Mother nature supplies the stabilizers.





Here in the next 2 pics shows the results of setting those types of runs. A colony trap would work really well here as well.






Coon Collector web site. http://www.cooncollector.com/
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: deerhunter65347] #1607361
11/21/09 01:42 PM
11/21/09 01:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,015
Edgerton, Ohio 20 yr old
skunkdefuser Offline
trapper
skunkdefuser  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,015
Edgerton, Ohio 20 yr old
Is it possible to have a pond with 2 pushups and no huts?


Trapped

Red Fox-0
Coon-5
Possum-0
Muskrats-3
Coyote-0
Grey Fox-0
Mink-0
Skunk-0
Beaver-0

Dogged

coon-8

Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: skunkdefuser] #1607367
11/21/09 01:47 PM
11/21/09 01:47 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
deerhunter65347 Offline
trapper
deerhunter65347  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 951
Higginsville Missouri
I know around here it is as they will use the dam as a denning area and the feed beds wont be far away. Situations such as that are good areas to catch them as they are in a confined area.

Chasing them in a few acres of marsh and sloughs gets a bit rough some times. Jonathan will be able to give you more details than i can!



Coon Collector web site. http://www.cooncollector.com/
Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: deerhunter65347] #1607384
11/21/09 01:56 PM
11/21/09 01:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,514
Nebraska
Trapset Offline
trapper
Trapset  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,514
Nebraska
Love it Jonathan, as usual.

I was away for a while, did you ever finish the "tote and pack" project you were working on a while back?

Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: deerhunter65347] #1607403
11/21/09 02:17 PM
11/21/09 02:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Jonathan Offline OP
"Wilson"
Jonathan  Offline OP
"Wilson"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Skunk, That is not uncommon in man-made ponds constructed with an impoundment type of dam, dike or berm. In many situations of this nature (lacking huts) the muskrats are living in bank dens, making only feed beds from the submergent and emergent aquatic vegetation in the pond.

In Ohio, if there were going to be huts on a pond in preparation for winter living quarters, they would have been built by now. Without huts and only feed beds/push ups, it is safe to assume the muskrats are using bank dens either in the pond proper, or in the ditch or small stream that may be an unobstructed inlet water source for the pond.

Muskrats are born engineers when it comes to housing and food storage to survive through a northern winter. They adapt accordingly in pond environments with an adequate food supply to hold them over.

Every pond is different, and it can be challenging at times to determine how and where to set traps for them - especially with fresh sign around. Once in awhile it takes a little time to figure that strategy out, but with keen observation and good techniques applied a decent harvest is possible.

Jonathan


Camera Gear: Canon EOS 7D-MK-II, Canon EF-S 10-22mm, EF 28-135mm, EF 100-400mm and EF 400mm lenses.



Re: Muskrat Activity In Cattail Marsh Habitat [Re: Trapset] #1607425
11/21/09 02:46 PM
11/21/09 02:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,202
Kansas
G
Gage Drift Offline
trapper
Gage Drift  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,202
Kansas
Originally Posted By: Trapset
Did you ever finish the "tote and pack" project you were working on a while back?


Thanks for another good thread Johnny! smile I'd like to see your packbasket project too, as I've been working on a design. Please bring it on.

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