I am curious how many places muskrats are found north of the Brooks Range in Alaska. Ive heard that lately in Nuiqsut they've trapped some and saw a photo of one taken at Toolik lake. From what Ive read, this is a new thing. is this wrong? if so, when did it start to become common for muskrats to be trapped north of the Brooks Range? Has this been a resource used for a long time? Do people eat the muskrat up there as they do down south? Its really tasty. I've heard they've been seen in Alpine and a few push-ups around Nuiqsut, but I haven't heard of any farther east or west findings of muskrats. Just curious.

Where's Nunamiut when you need him ??

Likely working and/or hunting!

Hey fellas, Ive been busy with packing and working on a house Im buying here in AKP. Its been a minute since Ive been on Tman!
We have had muskrats here in Anaktuvuk Pass since I moved here in 09, how much longer they have been here I would have to ask around. We also have beaver just south of the village about 3 miles, and one was spotted this summer next to town swimming in a Lake. We dont eat muskrats around here, and a few people eat beaver. They are really not part of the Inupiaq diet, as far as the North Slope Inupiaq that I know of.
Otters have been around since I moved home in 09 also.

I recall your father mentioning muskrats near Anaktuvuk many years ago. Way prior to 09...

We discussed whether they might make good wolf bait. He had not used them for that. (He was more of a "bear fat" guy!)

Pete

Pete,would that bear fat be tainted?

We seem to be seeing more every year around the lakes when we go geese hunting in the spring.
I used to use stink squirrel for bait, and that was some stink stuff! Im more of a tainted bear fat guy myself. Put it in a bucket for about a week in a boiler room, or someplace hot and you got some good trapping bait/lure.

Thanks,Nunamiut.I appreciate it.

That's probably where all our muskrats went, Alaska. Can't blame them. We use to be the muskrat capital of the world. Now it rare to see them.

Yes sir.

Nunamiut's dad told me about using tainted bear fat and I have had good luck with it.

Pete

Thanks,Pete.

Actually, muskrats disappeared from Alaska in the late 80's or 90s. They only recently have been reported "on the rise"....but trying to figure out if that is just a happenstance of a "rise" or a legitimate thing. Having them appear in places with no prior historical knowledge is a big indicator of being "on the rise"...or at least shifting from where they were before. I know there are museum specimens from Anaktuvuk from the 70s, but not a great many. How far north did they go in the Northwest Territories (assuming this is where you are now)?

I live in the furthest north west mainland community in the NWT. 48 air miles west of Inuvik, 80 miles south of the Beufort Sea. I was down to the Yukon North slope this weekend about 10 miles from the ocean and there was muskrats swimming around in front of my cabin. Lots of beaver too trying to plug up my creek. Tuktoyaktuk (right on the ocean) residents report lots of Muskrats in the saltwater lakes behind the community. Also lots of beaver.

My first "my eyes" sighting of muskrats here was the mid-90's.
Not many around, but pockets of them.

Climate change up here in Kotz really hurt the 'rat population. We had many years with little snowfall. The lakes froze thick, all the way to the bottom, killing the rats in many small lakes. We have a couple deep lakes with bubbles coming up on the peninsula and the 'rats congregated there during those difficult years. Lots of "simiksuuns" push-ups on those two, deep lakes. Last couple years now we're finally getting some snow and the 'rats seemed to spread out again and they're coming back now. My 11 year old has his sights on 'rats and mink this early winter. He can't wait. Normally we set a #1 on the little dish at an angle in the push up but sometimes the chain under the trap freezes and the 'rat doesn't go down and drown. Most of the time it works but not all the time. I thought about drilling a hole with an auger next to the simiksuun and putting a stick down with 2 110s with bait on the trigger. That way they're for sure in the water and not frozen into a dish. Anyone try something like that? And if so, what bait did you use and what was your set-up like?

Drill the hole at the sun angle 3 hours before sundown, so max light goes down the hole, green popular with a wire safety for any unwanted beaver activity.