Muskrats

Does anyone know if any states are doing studies on the decline of muskrat populations? Something I have been reading up on and was just wondering.

Try to Google Penn state muskrat decline study. I read a study the college did one time and bet its on-line.

I read in trappers post (I think) Ohio was doing a study.

In my small area I am seeing a resurgence in rats the last two years. The sloughs that were dry for years all have some to several signs of rats and the river line is doing a bit better than it was years ago.

Bryce

https://www.lakenganoe.com/muskrat-ecology.html

we have more rats, than in years , last few years they made a big come back

Pa. did a study two years ago. I saved 10 carcasses for the PGC for the biologists.

July 2020 issue of FFG had a short article that makes sense to me. No “one” big thing.

I heard Indiana's furbearer biologist on The Trap House podcast saying that she and several other midwestern state furbearer biologists are studying the situation together. I know I saw her at the ISTA fur auction taking measurements and recording data from the muskrat pelts that were there at the auction.

It was quite and interesting interview. I think you can download the podcast at HoosierTrapperSupply.com and then look for a link to The Trap House podcast.

New York State did a three year study on the muskrat decline
about 10 years ago.

I donated 100's of carcasses over 3 years for aging study
and counting placental scars to determine productivity.

They determined that female rats had an average of 13 kits
per year and a high of 27 kits.

They determined that production of Y.O.Y kits was adequate
to sustain the population but that kits were not recruiting
as yearlings due to various types of mortality.

It was a big question mark ????

walleyed

Ours come and go with the amount of water we have at that time lots of rats where you did not see them in the past now but the potholes are drying up.

West Virginia DNR is currently working on a muskrat study and requesting muskrat carcasses. I believe it's only been going on for a year or two, havent seen any updates, but I believe they're looking at liver samples and toxicity levels.

I feel predators contribute to the decline as well as dry weather conditions. I have a 40 acre pond on my land. Due to heavier than normal rainfall, the water went up significantly. Earlier this year I saw numerous rat houses and rats. Then the eagles showed up. It didn't take long and the rats began to disappear. Too coincidental as far as I'm concerned.

Lawdog is right about SD. After the 2012 drought you couldn't find a rat. We had a couple of wet years and this spring was great. Somewhat dry again but the big sloughs still have huts so if we can maintain some moisture we will maintain some rats. That drought really knocked em back and it took several years for them to come back.

I’m curious if Canada is experiencing the same decline in muskrat population??

There are plenty of rats where I am,but big catches are tough as they are spread out over the wilderness in beaver ponds and lakes.