Copyright © 2003 Jeremy Alcorn
All Rights Reserved - Reservation of Rights
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      This is the remnants of a muskrat’s housing. A number of these litter the area where the dredge material was dumped. These structures are built from the bottom of a shallow body of water or from a submerged structure such as a stump. They are constructed until enough of the structure is above the water to provide a place inside for a muskrat to climb from the water and remain dry. A single muskrat builds numerous shelters as such to either live in or to eat free from the danger of predators. The work which went in to this one was destroyed with one lunge of the dredge bucket. An added detriment is that the dredging of this ditch has removed any native reeds or other significant vegetation for the muskrat populations located here to rebuild their nesting and feeding dens.

      Fortunately, muskrats can burrow into the bank below water level and create a hollowed out den. However, dens built in this manner contain vents to the surface which are hidden by vegetation. When the dredge material was dumped on the bank it effectively covered the fauna that was present leaving no place to secretly vent the dens built by muskrats. The other side of the ditch provides more vegetation but not in significant amounts as it is farm land and planted up to the ditches edge.

      It is uncertain as to whether any muskrats were killed in this process, but it is not as likely because muskrats remain active during winter months and could have fled pending destruction.

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Posted/Updated: 7/27/03

Copyright © 2003 Jeremy Alcorn
All Rights Reserved - Reservation of Rights