Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
#6709169
12/28/19 10:43 PM
12/28/19 10:43 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181 valentine, NE
cornhuskerman
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181
valentine, NE
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Have started trapping rats in the last week and noticed something odd when I pulled one out a a feeder hut . In the jaws of the trap with the muskrat was a half eaten grass frog..... then today was checking sets and was pulling out moss for a plug and sure enough more pieces of a frog. And there was a dead one floating not far away so I grabbed him and ran a baited 160 on a pole to see if it will catch a rat . Has anyone ever seen this before ? I have never heard of such a thing . But there is also not many water trappers in my area .
The Lord giveth what you do not deserve and taketh what you do deserve
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: strike2x]
#6709188
12/28/19 10:52 PM
12/28/19 10:52 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181 valentine, NE
cornhuskerman
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181
valentine, NE
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I thought that as well but you would think I would have caught a mink by now
The Lord giveth what you do not deserve and taketh what you do deserve
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709215
12/28/19 11:08 PM
12/28/19 11:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,697 Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,697
Newark, Ohio 83 years
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Yes, muskrats will eat frogs, snails and other aquatic insects and animals. I am not sure what per cent of their diet it would be, but I think if they are available them. Many years ago I trapped a stream that contained a lot of fresh water mussels. One day I came across a muskrat eating something up on a dike. When it saw me it jumped into the water, so I went to see what it had been eating and it was a mussel. I have no idea how it got it open, but it had eaten about half of it. I left it there and the day it was almost all eaten. I worked for the State at the time, so I ask the State Biologist about it and he confirmed that they did such things.
Garry-
“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”
Have been trapping 77 years…
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: Boco]
#6709221
12/28/19 11:10 PM
12/28/19 11:10 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,489 Nebraska
silkyplainscoyot
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,489
Nebraska
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Of course rats eat frogs-and clams and other rats. Boco has it right. Seems like the prefer plant roots but will take advantage of what's in their habitat.
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709233
12/28/19 11:15 PM
12/28/19 11:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,851 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,851
Wisconsin
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I have caught a lot of rats using a rat shank for bait. All those clam shells on the banks aren't from just coon.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: Boco]
#6709285
12/29/19 12:06 AM
12/29/19 12:06 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,884 Mn
nightlife
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,884
Mn
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Of course rats eat frogs-and clams and other rats. Have seen it in several areas where I trap though here the frog population is down but I know of several areas were I think the major part of the rats diet is fresh water mussels because you will see huge piles of mussels shells where the have pulled them up to feed The rats in these areas are also larger and better furred then in areas where they are eating mostly vegetarian diets
�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.� ― Robert A. Heinlein
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709437
12/29/19 08:35 AM
12/29/19 08:35 AM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181 valentine, NE
cornhuskerman
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181
valentine, NE
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Interesting . Well we don't have very many mussels but we have a ton of frogs. So I will try to post if the baited frog conibear connects . Thanks for confirming my suspicions
The Lord giveth what you do not deserve and taketh what you do deserve
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709439
12/29/19 08:40 AM
12/29/19 08:40 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978 potter co. p.a.
pcr2
"Twerker"
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"Twerker"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
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one that gets me is giggin a frog with a mouse in its mouth.
i'm a firm believer muskrats are an evolved creature in ways not the same animal as in the 60;s and 70's
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709441
12/29/19 08:44 AM
12/29/19 08:44 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,887 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,887
williamsburg ks
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I think lots of stuff eats grass frogs. They are my favorite catfish bait. I have never seen a domestic cat that would not eat one. Dogs eat them too so I suspect coyotes and fox as well. With all the clams rats eat I am not surprised to learn rats eat them. I have used bull frogs for fish bait and they are terrible. Seen cats chase them and play with them but I think its we humans that eat most of the bull frogs. Those grass frogs must just be more nutritious or something.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709445
12/29/19 08:49 AM
12/29/19 08:49 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978 potter co. p.a.
pcr2
"Twerker"
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"Twerker"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
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bullfrogs can blow that throat out and stop that whole swallowing process of the predator i was told by an ol timer. disclaimer--in a bar and he was hammered.
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709448
12/29/19 08:54 AM
12/29/19 08:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,184 Piney va. soon be 19
cotton
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,184
Piney va. soon be 19
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all that plant matter rats eat is real low on protein, they need to eat some kind of meat.
seems a bunch of people could learn from the lowly muskrat.
John 3/16
ifin your gonna be dumb ya gotta be tough VTA life member
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cornhuskerman]
#6709541
12/29/19 10:28 AM
12/29/19 10:28 AM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181 valentine, NE
cornhuskerman
OP
trapper
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 181
valentine, NE
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You just always hear all the way from grade school that rats and beavers are herbivores so I was surprised to learn the opposite
The Lord giveth what you do not deserve and taketh what you do deserve
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Re: Muskrats Eating Frogs???!
[Re: cotton]
#6858910
04/30/20 12:30 AM
04/30/20 12:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,337 The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane
"HOSS"
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"HOSS"
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,337
The Hill Country of Texas
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all that plant matter rats eat is real low on protein, they need to eat some kind of meat. seems a bunch of people could learn from the lowly muskrat. Cattle eat all kinds of weird things if they get mineral deficient so why wouldn't rats? One of my best friend's dad is a feedlot nutritionist and he figures out all kinds of odd behaviors and a surprising number are related to what is not in the diet that the body wants.
“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.” Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers
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