Muskrats = Pond Damage and Tularemia

In Missouri, muskrats are widely spread across the state. Rarely will muskrats be seen very far from water, and they are usually seen swimming. Although they may be seen at any time, they are most active at twilight and throughout the night. During the day they may be seen feeding, or basking in the sun when temperatures are low. When cornered or captured, muskrats are aggressive biters and scratchers and can seriously injure pets and humans.

Uncontrolled muskrat populations do cause damage to private property and habitat. Hole digging activities undermine earthen dams and dikes. Damages also occur to irrigation canals and farm ponds. Large populations of muskrats also cause "eat-outs". These areas are simply over cropped by the feeding activities of the muskrats and the loss of vegetation and resulting silting makes the area less productive for other wildlife species as well. Muskrat "eat-outs" often destroy the roots of the vegetation, and it may take 15-20 years for the habitat to return to its original capacity to serve wildlife.

Dealing with muskrats is much easier if done before a population has become established in an area, so watch for signs of muskrats and adopt control measures as soon as you find evidence of their presence.

One way to observe early burrowing in farm ponds or reservoirs is to walk along the edge of the dam or shorelines when the water is clear and look for “runs” or trails from just below the normal water surface to as deep as 3 feet (91 cm). If no burrow entrances are observed, look for droppings along the bank or on logs or structures a muskrat can easily climb upon. Where damage is occurring to a crop, plant cutting is generally evident. In aquaculture reservoirs generally maintained without lush aquatic vegetation, muskrat runs and burrows or remains of mussels, crayfish, or fish along with other muskrat signs (tracks or droppings) are generally easy to observe. Muskrat control is easier before a population becomes established, so watch for signs and adopt control measures before significant damage occurs.

Muskrats are among the few animals that regularly defecate in water, and their droppings (like those of humans and other mammals) can cause a flu like infection, which old-time trappers referred to as “beaver fever.” Muskrats are one of the species that can be infected with the bacterial disease tularemia. Tularemia may be transmitted to humans if they drink contaminated water, eat undercooked, infected meat, or allow an open cut to contact an infected animal. The most common source of tularemia for humans is to be cut or nicked by a knife when skinning or gutting an infected animal. Humans can also get this disease via a tick bite, a biting fly, ingestion of contaminated water, or by inhaling dust from soil contaminated with the bacteria. A human who contracts tularemia commonly has a high temperature, headache, body ache, nausea, and sweats. A mild case may be confused with the flu and ignored. Humans can be easily treated with antibiotics.

If you are having issues with Muskrats give us a call and talk to one of our technicians about solutions that we can offer to resolve your Muskrat nuisance problem.

#tularemia #muskrat #muskratremoval #animalcontrol #animalremoval #disease #joplin #missouri #livestock #neosho #pet #photo #roadhazzard #wildliferemoval #wildlife