I have a muskrat job in a subdivision, it is on 4 ponds. There are many dens on each lake. With 37 traps out, I have only taken 3 muskrats in 3 days?

What kind of traps are you using and what sets are you making?

Colony traps and 110's. Using colonies and 110's in front of den entrances and colonies in culverts.

Don't be surprised that you aren't catching more this time of year. I do one lake with six ponds on two miles of walking trails and I'm always amazed at how low the catch is this time of year. While the damage is present, the muskrats aren't.

This year I saw the biggest snapping turtle of my life in one of the ponds by 4 "active" den entrances and I've had other issues with turtles taking bait out of floating sets and moving colony traps out of den entrances. I think when the 'rats move to a safer location when a large number of turtles are present. And don't forget that the fish that like to spawn around the dens giving the impression that there is activity when there really isn't.

If possible, set up some trail cameras to see if you get any pictures of the 'rats on the surface and start asking around to see if anyone is even seeing them.

I can't even begin to imagine what a great tasting snapping turtle, who has been dining on even better tasting muskrats, must taste like!

Yeah summer work is always low numbers for me also I think on these retention ponds the muskrat can do a lot of sign making, they are working in a small area a lot so it looks like a mess of rats yet only a few. I catch 3 or 4 and the sign stops. I also think that the feed or absence of certain food will force the rats to maybe go across the road to another pond not far off to eat something there, only to come back when whatever is good to eat in that pond starts to grow. where larger bodies of water rivers and creeks the rats can cover a lot of traveling up and down yet get back the the den. the ponds that are separated are not as easy or safe to go back and forth. so they just stay there till something else makes them move, Like ground hogs.

Yes, fish are spawning and getting in my colonies. I have a total of 4 rats caught now. 2 adults and 2 young ones. It has been six days, I guess I am pulling out tomorrow?

Timberline, my bet is that you will be called back, so if that's the case, let us know. I have made some of the local ponds my life's work.

I always do an evening watch to determine the rough population on each watershed I trap. If not it is a guessing game. You will learn to do this over the years to know if you have had a clean out or not. Just watch for the water wakes and the rest is doing your math. This will also help you to identify the location of some potential denning areas that may have been overlooked or not noticed before.

You know Bob I was out on a spot the other night doing that with some beaver. I watched 2 rats swimming round each other for a good hour, not another rat was seen but the tracks and clippings was every where in that little area that they stayed in

Ron that is what I was trying to add to this topic. Some dont have the years in understanding ADC work vs Fur trapping numbers and the times of year.It can be an eye opener as to how few animals can cause so much sign in an area. Most over estimate the population when they read the sign or fail to know what and where to look for occupational sign.

That is when time served in the field gives the advantage to that individual to understand such circumstances.When in doubt, do a watch and you will be better prepared for the next job and better educated to boot.

I am doing a single animal muskrat job in the middle of a small town. It is living under a shed and was occupying a coi pond until it chewed thru the liner and it drained.It ate all the fish and is working on the plants now. Want to talk about a shy animal this is one of those circumstances that the animal avoids or mud plugs all devices unfamiliar to its normal natural environment and in its immediate home range setting.

From the feces and activity the average individual would probably think there were several rats living there. But there is only one animal. I ran trail cams for several nites to confirm that assessment.A very good training circumstance to show how a single last animal has that instinctive survival behavior to avoid anything new in its home area that is out of place or smells unfamiliar.

A job in progress.

You just made another gem point that a lot of folks do not realize or do not look for with muskrats, and that is muskrats are meat and fish eaters also. those piles of fresh water clam shells on the banks. The little heads left from a minnows at the top of a slide. a frog foot on a grass clump.

And don't forget the droppings on the rock that contain cherry/chocolate peanut butter.

I finally caught the elusive and very wary muskrat early this morning in a mink snare while making access into a water pump housing it was using to access clean cool water every nite. He did a job on chewing some wiring leads in the immediate snare catch area. An electrician will be needed to splice the mess it left behind.

That muskrat was as cautious as some spooked beaver or coyote. That one last or single animal can teach us so much with their ability to avoid unfamiliar objects and odors in its little environment.

Leasson learned should have flat rated the job . I went one job like that they drained the pond just before I got there they wanted to make it easyer they said . Should have seen the puzzled look on my face

Hey Bob, did you ever notice how you can catch hundreds of muskrats and not one of them will stand out in your mind but this guy in the mink snare will be etched in your mind forever?

You are right Paul as usual. It was a learning and humbling experience all wrapped up in one. I must have shared my encounter with several folks the last few days. Even those that could have cared less.

For those of you that don't think that there's not a sense of humor in all of us, please note Bob J's line, "Even those that could have cared less" cracked me up! How many times haven't we all done the same darn thing?