Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Muskrats

I have a 1 acre pond in Wisconsin and have everything under control and then muskrats moved in. The fatheads love to live in the holes but I don't want the shoreline devastated. I am looking for any and all ways to eliminate them and keep them away. I welcome all informed ideas. I saw the article on den collapsing but it was a little vague. It also listed box traps but said nothing of bait.

Does anyone know of a good source for info as to their habits and and den construction.

Brian

BRIAN- TRY A SLICE OF APPLE FOR YOUR BAIT. A SMALL 110 BODYGRIP TRAP PLACED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE DEN WORKS QUITE WELL. LOOK UNDER TRAPPING ON THE WEB , TONS OF INFO AVAILABLE. TRY THE WTA- WISCONSIN TRAPPERS ASSOC. OR THE NTA, NATIONAL TRAPPERS ASSOC.
I USED TO HAVE A BIG MUSKRAT PROBLEM BUT I "RELOCATED" MOST OF THEM. IF THEY JUST DUG INTO THE BANKS I WOULDN'T CARE BUT THEY REALLY LIKED TO DIG INTO MY 2 DAMS AND I COULDN'T HAVE THAT. THE EASIEST WAY IS WITH ANYTHING FROM A .22 TO A 12 GA. DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH TIME AND FUN YOU WANT TO HAVE. CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS. IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHOOT MUSKRATS IN MICHIGAN.
DAN

This post was posted twice which seems common on this site and there are a lot of replies on the other posting if you are interested. I don't mind the animals themselves either but the banks collapse in when we mow the grass around the pond. I am planning on using apples for bait as soon as the ice goes out. I would shoot them if I could see them. Only once I have seem one in the daylight. No need to worry if it is legal to shoot them or not. In wisconsin it is illegal for me to fish in the pond that I paid to build, paid to maintain, and actually paid for the fish at stocking, unless I buy a fishing license. Might as well require anyone going out for Friday night perch to buy a license. They have less invested than I do. I am on my property which I paid for dearly and will harvest Muskrats as I see fit. Thanks for the advice.

This post was posted twice which seems common on this site and there are a lot of replies on the other posting if you are interested. I don't mind the animals themselves either but the banks collapse in when we mow the grass around the pond. I am planning on using apples for bait as soon as the ice goes out. I would shoot them if I could see them. Only once I have seem one in the daylight. No need to worry if it is legal to shoot them or not. In wisconsin it is illegal for me to fish in the pond that I paid to build, paid to maintain, and actually paid for the fish at stocking, unless I buy a fishing license. Might as well require anyone going out for Friday night perch to buy a license. They have less invested than I do. I am on my property which I paid for dearly and will harvest Muskrats as I see fit. Thanks for the advice.

This post was posted twice which seems common on this site and there are a lot of replies on the other posting if you are interested. I don't mind the animals themselves either but the banks collapse in when we mow the grass around the pond. I am planning on using apples for bait as soon as the ice goes out. I would shoot them if I could see them. Only once I have seem one in the daylight. No need to worry if it is legal to shoot them or not. In wisconsin it is illegal for me to fish in the pond that I paid to build, paid to maintain, and actually paid for the fish at stocking, unless I buy a fishing license. Might as well require anyone going out for Friday night perch to buy a license. They have less invested than I do. I am on my property which I paid for dearly and will harvest Muskrats as I see fit. Thanks for the advice.

This post was posted twice which seems common on this site and there are a lot of replies on the other posting if you are interested. I don't mind the animals themselves either but the banks collapse in when we mow the grass around the pond. I am planning on using apples for bait as soon as the ice goes out. I would shoot them if I could see them. Only once I have seem one in the daylight. No need to worry if it is legal to shoot them or not. In wisconsin it is illegal for me to fish in the pond that I paid to build, paid to maintain, and actually paid for the fish at stocking, unless I buy a fishing license. Might as well require anyone going out for Friday night perch to buy a license. They have less invested than I do. I am on my property which I paid for dearly and will harvest Muskrats as I see fit. Thanks for the advice.

Brian- I don't know why the multiple postings come up, but they can be confusing. I found the other posting after I had answered on this one.

I agree with your methods 100% and take care of my own business exactly the same way.
Good luck with the 'rats.
Dan