Where’s Wildlife · Mammal Field Guide
Ondatra zibethicus
Pronounced (approx.): on-DAT-ruh zih-BETH-ih-kus
A wetland rodent whose swimming silhouette can be mistaken for a small beaver.
Muskrat. Select the image to browse all 8 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Rounded brown body
Small ears and blunt face
Long, scaly tail flattened from side to side
Compare views, markings and body shapes in the photographs below.
Muskrats have compact brown bodies, small ears and dense fur. Their long, mostly hairless tails are flattened from side to side. That tail shape is a strong clue if it is visible above water or as the animal moves on land.
A beaver is much larger and has a broad, paddle-shaped tail. An otter has a longer, more streamlined body and a thick, furred tail. Swimming animals often hide these features, so wait for a better view before deciding.
Aquatic plants make up much of a muskrat’s diet, though it may also eat foods such as mussels or crayfish. Marshes and quiet waters with abundant vegetation provide food and cover. Muskrats swim readily and forage both in and beside water.
Muskrats shelter in bank burrows or lodges built from vegetation. Entrances are commonly underwater. They remain active through winter, using sheltered routes and access beneath ice where conditions allow. Young develop in a protected nest.
The tail is flattened side to side, unlike a beaver’s paddle.
Both bank burrows and plant-built lodges are used.
Aquatic vegetation forms the core of the diet.
Muskrats are native to much of North America and have been introduced in other parts of the world. Suitable wetland habitat matters more than a continuous blanket of land within the broad range.
Explore reported sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.