Re: Muskrats gone?
[Re: Flipper 56]
#6819178
03/27/20 12:48 PM
03/27/20 12:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683 Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683
Wabash, IN USA
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Did they just move somewhere else until the cattails grow fresh again or something?
"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"
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Re: Muskrats gone?
[Re: Flipper 56]
#6819184
03/27/20 12:55 PM
03/27/20 12:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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Most situations I have seen with a heavy population and then a quick die off are the result of disease, probably tularemia.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Muskrats gone?
[Re: SNIPERBBB]
#6821924
03/29/20 03:39 PM
03/29/20 03:39 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,294 PA
lumberjack391
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,294
PA
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This is one of the reasons I hate nuisance trapping muskrats. Unless the owner called and said he saw a muskrat 5 minutes ago, you're chasing ghost animals. At least in my area. More like they saw one and tell you they saw a dozen......
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Re: Muskrats gone?
[Re: Flipper 56]
#6821969
03/29/20 04:28 PM
03/29/20 04:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683 Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683
Wabash, IN USA
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There was lots of dens and tons of cattails with the roots chewed off. I have trapped long enough to know muskrat sign. But it is from fall and winter and now nothing fresh, moss in the bottom of the runs that would have been swept out from even one rat. Looks like there was a lot, so maybe they got the rat plague and died.
"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"
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Re: Muskrats gone?
[Re: Flipper 56]
#6822009
03/29/20 05:13 PM
03/29/20 05:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683 Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683
Wabash, IN USA
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I wondered if they ate all the good food and left.
"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"
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Re: Muskrats gone?
[Re: Flipper 56]
#6823457
03/30/20 07:21 PM
03/30/20 07:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683 Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,683
Wabash, IN USA
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Different owner for the big pond, have not looked, I am pretty sure I could get permission to trap it. I can trap the creek, to much rain to check the creek right now. Not a big deal, he just wanted them out of the pond. The new owner might kill all the cattails and if there is no food the rats might not come back
"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"
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Re: Muskrats gone?
[Re: Flipper 56]
#6824779
03/31/20 06:57 PM
03/31/20 06:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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Being there were "tons" of rats in the fall, no trapping and now no rats I still say disease. Although you state they have eaten all the roots of the cattails, rats eat a great variety of foods. These foods include water lilies, cattails, sedges, wild rice, clover, switch grass, arrowhead, frogs, fish, crayfish, snails and mussels.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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