Wilderness Portraits Archive by Lloyd Paul Aiello

Muskrat Young Sunbathing on Lodge

A pair of young muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) warm themselves by resting in the sun on top of their "push-up" or lodge made from old cattail stalks and lotus seedpods. The parents were foraging nearby. The muskrat is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North American wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. The muskrat is the largest species in the subfamily Arvicolinae, which includes 142 other species of rodents including voles and lemmings; however, they are not true rats. An adult muskrat is about 16–28 in long, and weighs 1.3–4.4 pounds. Almost half of its length is tail. Muskrats can swim under water for 12 to 17 minutes at a time and breed two or three times a year with six to eight young per litter.

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Filename: _LPA5478-muskrat-young-lodge-lotus.tif
Image Size: 4409x2943 / 62.7MB; www.WildernessPortraits.com; Concord Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Massachusetts activity animal behavior animals baby blue brown cattail color cute descriptors format horizontal identification lake mammals - terrestrial marsh master muskrat peaceful places plants pond resting rodent season sleepy spring state-city-location tired type view water young

A pair of young muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) warm themselves by resting in the sun on top of their "push-up" or lodge made from old cattail stalks and lotus seedpods. The parents were foraging nearby. The muskrat is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North American wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. The muskrat is the largest species in the subfamily Arvicolinae, which includes 142 other species of rodents including voles and lemmings; however, they are not true rats. An adult muskrat is about 16–28 in long, and weighs 1.3–4.4 pounds. Almost half of its length is tail. Muskrats can swim under water for 12 to 17 minutes at a time and breed two or three times a year with six to eight young per litter.