muskrat | at 6 weeks of age | March, April or May right after spring breakup | 3 in a summer | | | 15 minutes by reducing its heart rate and relaxing its muscles when submerged which reduces the rate at which oxygen is used | rat, mouse or vole | a lodge or burrow in bank | Ondatra zibethicus | very well | cattails, bulrushes, horsetails, pondweeds, sedges, wild rice, willows, fish, frogs, and clams | | fur | waterproof fur | | fresh water marshes, marshy areas of lakes, and slow-moving streams | mink, snapping turtle, northern pike, wolf, coyote, fox, domestic dog, badger, wolverine, fisher, raccoon, and lynx |
female muskrat | at 6 weeks of age | March, April or May right after spring breakup | 3 in a summer | 5-10 | live babies | 15 minutes by reducing its heart rate and relaxing its muscles when submerged which reduces the rate at which oxygen is used | muskrat | a lodge or burrow in bank | Ondatra zibethicus | very well | cattails, bulrushes, horsetails, pondweeds, sedges, wild rice, willows, fish, frogs, and clams | less than 1 month | fur | | babies | fresh water marshes, marshy areas of lakes, and slow-moving streams | mink, snapping turtle, northern pike, wolf, coyote, fox, domestic dog, badger, wolverine, fisher, raccoon, and lynx |