Muskrats have dark, glossy fur (lighter below), a laterally flattened tail, and partially webbed hind feet. The head and body are 16-24 inches long, with the tail an additional 7-12 inches. They feed on mostly on aquatic vegetation, but also eat crayfish and frogs. They use their flattened tails for steering, can stay submerged for up to 15 minutes, and can swim backwards. The mouth closes behind protruding incisors, allowing them to feed under water.

Muskrats build lodges (for living and breeding) that are about 5 feet high and 8 feet in diameter (smaller than a beaver lodge), with an underwater entrance. There have been at least four lodges at one time in our wetland area, built from Juncus, other vegetation and mud.

One sign of muskrat is the presence of a feeding platform where vegetation has been dragged for convenient consumption. There was a feeding platform of Juncus under one of the boardwalks.

Another sign is distinctive scat that is elongated and about half an inch long. Clusters of scat are often deposited in specific places, such as under water on the boardwalk here.