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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32
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OP
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32 |
Hey guys long time no see. I have 2 year old pond at my fathers that has a liner in it. Last winter I thought I saw a muskrat in there. I waited and waited and always kept an eye out but never saw it again. I was keeping my pond open with an ice eater at the time. Anyways this spring after the ice melted turns out there was a muskrat in there. I found a big hole in the liner and saw where he burrowed into the bank. I have not seen the muskrat since the one sighting last winter. Did he just use the pond for the winter or was the damage done as soon as the ice went? Why is he gone now? Will he be back?We set 2 traps but now all different kinds of waterfowl are using the pond as they return north so we pulled the traps so no birds will get caught in it. Should I be concerned about a return visit from that muskrat? I have been doing some reading on muskrats but figured I would ask for some advice about the situation. That liner was expensive and I cant have muskrats eating holes in there. I will patch liner once/if the water level goes down to that point.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32
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OP
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32 |
Here are 2 pics of my pond. Its nothing special by any means but its serving it's purpose. We enjoy that lil pond. You can see where he burrowed in the 1st picture. Just left of the wood pile. ![](http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/Lonegoose28/pond_zpsab5wn63a.jpg) ![](http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/Lonegoose28/pond2_zpshlksetdx.jpg)
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,815 Likes: 316
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 ![](images/stars.gif) Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 ![](images/stars.gif) Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,815 Likes: 316 |
My guess is that the muskrat won't leave if he's got a good gig going in your pond.
Granted, he could have gotten aced by some other predator.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,801 Likes: 69
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,801 Likes: 69 |
If there is one, there are likely more. They can multiply rapidly, and like Sunil said, if there's forage, they will likely remain.
Since you have a liner, considering the cost, I'd err on the side of caution, go Def Con 5, and make trapping the rats a priority. Seek a professional if necessary.
Colony traps deployed in runs/den entrances have worked for me in the past, and won't harm waterfowl or anything else except Mink who are hunting them and will suffer the same drowning fate.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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