Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Muskrat friend or foe?

Hi All,
In our pond this spring we saw a muskrat swimming.Is this critter welcome or will it become a problem? And do I need to get someone to trap it?
Thanks
Phil

They'll dig tunnels in the banks and dam. They destroy the area around the pond real quick. I just got rid of one that has been in my pond for a week and he already had excavated about a 10 foot tunnel under the bank which collapsed when I walked on it. You don't want them in the pond.

It will dig tunnels in your pond dam or bank about a foot under water. Buy a head trap and mount it over the hole. Do it yourself because you may have muskrats in the future so it will be handy to have the trap available. If you are vigilant you could shoot him if you catch him on the bank. If you shoot him on the water remember that the bullet could deflect off the water and end up who knows where. The head trap is the way to go.

FOE

Foe fo sho! :rolleyes:

Is a "head trap" the same thing as a snare trap?

11 muskrats disappeared from our pond this winter.

I agree about muskrats. Yesterday, I found a mink dead along the bank. Know idea what happened to it.

That should say "NO idea what happened to it"

Muskrat Susie, Muskrat Sam
Do the jitterbug out in muskrat land
And they shimmy
And Sammy's so skinny

And they whirled and they twirled and they tangoed
Singin' and jingin' the jango
Floatin' like the heavens above
It looks like muskrat love

Come on everybody sing!!!!

Who knew the Capitan and Tennile could be so wrong

Jeff, shouldn't you be real, real busy with tax time right now?

He seems to be taking a break from tax prep.
And perhaps reality.

I'm glad I don't have muskrats around here. I think the nutrias, beaver, and moccasins keep them chased away.

They can be difficult to control once established. (110 coniber works fair)
I vote, FOE!

Thank you all for the input. I will try to trap it. I have a trap that we use to relocate skunks any suggestion on what to use for bait?
phil

I have a book on trapping that recommends apples, corn, carrots, cabbage, and sorghum syrup for muskrat. I do think you will have a hard time getting it to go into a live box trap and if you plan to relocate it remember that your neighbors probably don't want it in their pond either. If you have success let us know what worked.

:D Been working 7 days a week for a couple of months now. Put in a 17 hour day the other day. Yep I'm real busy. But that sounds like more of an accusation than a question. Besides if it weren't for PB fun I'd be having no fun at all.

I have the right to remain silent (you should be so lucky).

I'm no expert on trapping but I can't imagine you can catch a muskrat in a live trap. "Relocating skunks?" Who ever heard of that? In most states a skunk is fair game anytime you find one. They are a pest and a health hazard so why relocate them? How does one relocate a skunk anyway? Don't relocate one to my place please.

MY father in law live traps them, then relocates them in a 55 gallon barrel full of water trap and all. He sets the trap so that he uses the building as a sneak up vantage point then throws a tarp over it and lifts it to the barrel that is next to the trap he says way less smell then shooting it in the trap.

I've never relocated any, but several have relocated me.

There is a game preserve about five miles from the house so I let them go there. My donation to the preserve. And yes the tarp does work thats what I do.
thanks for all the input on the muskrat I will try the fresh veggies and let you know. If that doesn't work I will use the 22g.
Phil

5 miles isn't far to travel for animal. If you kill the muskrat, may as well eat it, too.

I'm excited to see one for the first time in years at our ponds. I hadn't noticed any muskrat damage in the past because the cattle obviously have a greater presence.

Connibear is the only way to go for me. I have about 10 traps ready to go. As soon as I see a run I probe for it's hole and set the trap in front of it. I will not stand for a potenial catasthropy ( sp?) with the dike of my big pond as it's right on the highway!

Would someone like to post a good photo or description of muskrat burrows? The only way I'd know I've got 'em right now is to see them in person.