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Do muskrats have fleas? #4939821
02/28/15 08:24 PM
02/28/15 08:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
10bands Offline OP
trapper
10bands  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
I swear I had a flea on my head today like I get sometimes with coyotes but no coyotes here for over a month. Just muskrats today.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4939825
02/28/15 08:25 PM
02/28/15 08:25 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
Oh yeah, a water flea. They are bitin' little suckers too.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4939829
02/28/15 08:26 PM
02/28/15 08:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,390
williams,mn
trapper les Offline
trapper
trapper les  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,390
williams,mn
I havent seen it yet.


"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4939831
02/28/15 08:26 PM
02/28/15 08:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
10bands Offline OP
trapper
10bands  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
Hmm. No bites but pretty sure one was crawling around under my hat.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4939835
02/28/15 08:27 PM
02/28/15 08:27 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,390
williams,mn
trapper les Offline
trapper
trapper les  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,390
williams,mn
Now I'me getting that crawly feeling,lol.


"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4939845
02/28/15 08:31 PM
02/28/15 08:31 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
I've seen them on both beavers and rats. Kind of a reddish color.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: trapperkeck] #4940100
02/28/15 10:39 PM
02/28/15 10:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 169
MN. land of 10,000 chances
linolakesguy Offline
trapper
linolakesguy  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 169
MN. land of 10,000 chances
Originally Posted By: trapperkeck
I've seen them on both beavers and rats. Kind of a reddish color.


Also saw some on some beaver last spring... Pretty gross looking red critters, mostly on the face area... Haven't seen any rats yet, not sure why their wouldn't be though.


" it's a Trap! ".

Admiral Akbar
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940171
02/28/15 11:20 PM
02/28/15 11:20 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,947
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,947
South metro, MN
They don't like people. They jump off in no time. Nothing to worry about.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940326
03/01/15 01:20 AM
03/01/15 01:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,408
Ohio
Minker Offline
trapper
Minker  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,408
Ohio
it was a baby tick , you'll be ok.


Fur Trapping ;
Its not about making Money, Its All about the Adventures you'll have on the Trapline .
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940349
03/01/15 01:53 AM
03/01/15 01:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,539
southwestern PA
P
PA TRAPPER Offline
trapper
PA TRAPPER  Offline
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P

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,539
southwestern PA
I have only seen little white what I would consider mites on muskrats here.The reddish flea looking bugs that beaver Carrie are actually a beetle and although can drive you nuts when you get them in your hair never had one bite.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940358
03/01/15 02:00 AM
03/01/15 02:00 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005
Oregon
And those beetles are specific to beaver.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940370
03/01/15 02:21 AM
03/01/15 02:21 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,801
S/E Mich - N/W Ohio
On a Call Offline
trapper
On a Call  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,801
S/E Mich - N/W Ohio
They carry head fall off fever

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940386
03/01/15 02:59 AM
03/01/15 02:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,243
NWWA/AZ
Vinke Offline
trapper
Vinke  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,243
NWWA/AZ
I do from them,,,, wash your body with bleach........


Slightly used Shoes 4 sale……………
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940387
03/01/15 03:00 AM
03/01/15 03:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
MINN
H
HILLTOP TRAPPER Offline
trapper
HILLTOP TRAPPER  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
MINN
dont know about rats but the squirels i cleand today had a bunch of them on em.darn ebee jeebes.i feel em crawlin on me yet


U GOTTA DO WHAT U GOTTA DO CAUSE IT IS WHAT IT IS....AINT NOTHIN WRONG WITH QUIET
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: On a Call] #4940391
03/01/15 03:10 AM
03/01/15 03:10 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
10bands Offline OP
trapper
10bands  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
Originally Posted By: On a Call
They carry head fall off fever
Now I can't sleep.

It was just like the fleas I've got from coyotes. Feel them messing around in my hair, which I try to ignore until I'm done skinning, then it's straight to a hot shower and they're gone. Never been bit by one.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940702
03/01/15 11:49 AM
03/01/15 11:49 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 644
Montana
B
Bosco Offline
trapper
Bosco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 644
Montana
You need to take a bath in BEER !

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940749
03/01/15 12:19 PM
03/01/15 12:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Before or after??


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940779
03/01/15 12:33 PM
03/01/15 12:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,408
Ohio
Minker Offline
trapper
Minker  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,408
Ohio
full strength bleach bath , shave your hair bald , cover yuor self in fingernail polish , you'll be ok in a couple months . might go to a Vet and get a flea dip and flea shot.

you got packrats around there ? might be a hanta virus carrying flea.


Fur Trapping ;
Its not about making Money, Its All about the Adventures you'll have on the Trapline .
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #4940823
03/01/15 12:55 PM
03/01/15 12:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,463
Westerlo, New York
O
Otter04 Offline
trapper
Otter04  Offline
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O

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,463
Westerlo, New York
send them muskrats over to me, fleas and all, ill take them if them little buggers are bothering you. lol

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #6143573
01/31/18 05:36 PM
01/31/18 05:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
N
nyhuntfish Offline
trapper
nyhuntfish  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
Note since this was the first Google search result when I searched for topic concerned:

1.) Little white fleas on muskrat not a problem.
2.) Last weekend I put a rat in a cardboard box to transport, then opened box and got bit like 10 times On an existing (almost open) cut (I guess they were drawn to blood in the nanosecond it took them to bite me) on my hand.
3.) Called my 60+ year trapper friend and he said nothing to worry about. I could put in a bag and spray bug spray which shouldn't hurt the meat either, but not necessary.
4.) So I skinned it out, and ate the meat.
5.) Hand healed up just fine. I did scratch the bites so they bled and put on rubbing alcohol but probably not needed.
6.) Meat was great.

...In case anyone else has this problem. "Teeny tiny white flea looking things" aren't a problem in my experience and from what I was told by an expert.

-Dave
First Year Wannabe Trapper

Last edited by nyhuntfish; 01/31/18 05:37 PM.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: PA TRAPPER] #6265099
06/22/18 06:02 PM
06/22/18 06:02 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,400
Morgantown, WV
D
Dfabs Offline
trapper
Dfabs  Offline
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D

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,400
Morgantown, WV
Originally Posted By: PA TRAPPER
I have only seen little white what I would consider mites on muskrats here.


This is what I have seen on our muskrats. Wee little tiny ones that you really have to look for to see.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #6265161
06/22/18 08:05 PM
06/22/18 08:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
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T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Out In ND I've seen rats infested with those things that look like tiny shrimp. Never see them on live rats but on those dead drowned rats they are sometimes infested with them.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #6406908
12/23/18 03:37 PM
12/23/18 03:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,120
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Offline
trapper
Northof50  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,120
Manitoba
From page 127 ,just pulled this up;
Yes there are fleas on muskrats, especially if they are bank rats that live with other rodents in the dens, the rats get them as a secondary host from their bedding etc.
They can also get ..the beaver beetle Platypsyllus castoris because they go into beaver lodges and pick them up.

what Beav is referring to is Gammarus or fresh water shrimp

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #6406988
12/23/18 05:11 PM
12/23/18 05:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,276
Manitoba Canada
M
MB Coonguy Offline
trapper
MB Coonguy  Offline
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M

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,276
Manitoba Canada
Ya I have had rats with those shrimp on them by the hundreds-when you skin them and give them a flick they fall all over the floor-when they die and dry up they turn pink in color.The perch and walleye love those shrimp! If you find a bunch of those when you ice fish the fish will be near by-guaranteed!

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #6407059
12/23/18 06:17 PM
12/23/18 06:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
Everything and everybody has bugs living on them.
If you cant see or feel them they don't bother people.

Last edited by Boco; 12/23/18 06:18 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #6407176
12/23/18 08:47 PM
12/23/18 08:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,116
Washington
C
cat daddy Offline
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cat daddy  Offline
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C

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,116
Washington
Caught one the other day with a big leech on it.

Re: Do muskrats have fleas? [Re: 10bands] #6407322
12/23/18 11:35 PM
12/23/18 11:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,120
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Offline
trapper
Northof50  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,120
Manitoba
Also they have both chewing and sucking lice, they are white snow flake size.
4 species of mites live on them as well

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