Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations What critter would do this?

Brettski:

If the water is clear and you can see the bottom for a couple feet out past the shore, you probably don't need the rebar poker.
Just look for their runs. It's too late now, but the easiest time to find the runs is right after the ice forms on the pond. When they leave their den the air that is in their fur will come out when they hit the water and it'll leave a bubble trail beneath the ice that leads right to their den as long as the ice is clear.

Also, while the conibears will work just fine, it's a catch one-reset thing. There are cage traps on the market (or you could make your own) that will catch more than one at a time.

Think of the havahart type live traps, but the doors are on each end, and are facing the other way. Gravity holds the doors down, and the 'rats open them when try and go thru them. The cages are long enough so that when they hit the other closed door the door that they pushed open to get in closes behind them. The 'rats will normally swim along the bottom of their runs, or at least dive down when swimming to their den. These cage traps have the hinge on the top outside rather than top inside and door is inside the cage. One door at each end, the traps can catch 4-5 at a time. The key is to have the top of the trap at least a couple of inches under water so they drown. I'll do some digging and see if I can find a website or pic for ya.

I made some out of 1/2" hardware cloth and hog rings that worked just fine. They are bulkier than the conibears, and some states don't allow their use. But, considering that they will catch more than one 'rat at a time, they are VERY effective if placed in an active run.

This will give you an idea what they look like.
Muskrat colony trap

To set those traps, all you need is a thick wooden broom handle with a hook screwed into one end. Pick up the trap with the hook, place it in the center of the run, close to the den entrance and you are good to go. You can use your hands to place them, but that's no fun when it's right above freezing outside and the water is in the 30's as well. No staking required if you can check it within 24 hr. (less chance of a predator/scavenger to find it and cart the whole mess off to get at the prize inside) If you place it within a foot or so of the entrance and it's empty the next day, nobody's using that den and it's time to move it. Another tip for finding an active den is look at the bottom of the 'rat run. If there isn't any sediment built up on the bottom of the run then it's in use.