Beaver tails are wide flat and paddle shaped while muskrats have long skinny tails with flat sides. They are distinguishable from beavers by their smaller size and the characteristics of the tail and feet. A few quick tips can aid in identifying muskrat vs. beaver infestations. At only two to four pounds they are much smaller than their cousin the beaver which can easily reach 50 pounds. While swimming at the surface muskrats expose much of their heads and backs. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) swimming at Westmoreland Park.March 16, 2019 Okay, now for the muskrat in the park! Your email address will not be published. A beaver will also block pipes with sticks and mud, which can create issues for entire neighborhoods. All three species are semi- aquatic rodents that utilize similar habitat and are some- what similar in general habits and appearance. Who: Naturalist and salamander enthusiast from Canada. Apart from being of help in swimming, beavers use their tail to store fat in winter. In addition, muskrats and beavers build their dens in water, often coexisting in the same lodge. Beavers and muskrats are semiaquatic animals that share a number of similarities which make it hard for many people to tell them apart. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. They can dive 15 to 20min without returning to the surface to breathe. As they evolved, they each independently hit on a set of traits that work very well in their particular habitat—a bit like two people coming up with the same great idea. All rights reserved. Overall, beavers cause more damage than muskrats because of their lodges and dams. In places where their natural, secluded habitat is unavailable, beavers may build dams near residential areas. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Likes: Learning new ferns. They re all brown furry and they swim well so the confusion isn t too surprising. This damage causes washouts that are dangerous for properties downstream. It can be difficult to tell the two species apart when they are swimming because they have such a similar looking face. Susan looks at me and says it's a muskrat, not a buffalo, and not a beaver. They may Both rodents have water-resistant fur in shades of brown. There fur is small in size but is loved by the people. They both swim, often paddling at the surface. Both animals girdle trees, but beavers leave chiseled logs and stumps in their wake. Receive The Latest Posts Directly To Your Email! Muskrats are common in many of the islands ponds and wetlands. Muskrat identification is the way they travel in water. Nutria, or coypu, (Myocastor coypus) are a large, stout-bodied animals that can be easily confused with other species.With careful observation, nutria can be positively identified in the field. They also use the tail as a prop while sitting or standing on land. At only two to four pounds they are much smaller than their cousin the beaver which can … The water otters swim in lines but the beaver and the muskrat swim with their ears protruding out of the water. They are larger than muskrats and smaller than beaver.Adult nutria can weigh up to 20 pounds with total length of about 3 feet. MUSKRAT (Ondatra zibethicus) Muskrats are rodents, about 18 inches long, with a thin tail. Grace Fulton April 5, 2019 At 3:46 pm. Like rats and mice, muskrats and beavers are both rodents. These animals are rarely hostile, but under the right conditions, beavers are dangerous to people. All are similar in appearance and size. © Copyright Critter Control. Required fields are marked *. Homeowners concerned about muskrats or beavers should call the experts at Critter Control. Beaver, Nutria and Muskrats Dale A. They’re both brown, rotund animals with bare, fleshy tails. While swimming at the surface, muskrats expose much of their heads and backs. Critter Control Logo. Meanwhile, the crowd now determined the critter was not a buffalo, but a beaver swimming towards the shoreline. Here’s a quick guide to these two similar creatures. In contrast, an observer would see a muskrat's entire body as it moves through the water. I have not personally seen one in the Crystal Springs Watershed in a few years, and never managed to photograph one before, but this past Saturday I spotted this individual swimming underwater against the current at Westmoreland Park, south of the casting pond. Muskrats have a tail that is flattened vertically (the opposite of the beaver… On Bug Boxes, Climate Grief, and Human Health, Access Nature Through These ADA-Accessible Trails, Understanding Coastal Climate Vulnerability. However, muskrats are much more closely related to hamsters than they are to beavers. Reply. Navigate to homepage. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. You can usually see a muskrat’s whole body when it is swimming. Here’s how to tell these animals apart when you spot them while hiking or paddling: Practice your identification skills at a related program, including a Beaver Hike for Families on June 21 at Wachusett Meadow in Princeton, Evening at the Beaver Ponds on July 9 at Pleasant Valley in Lenox, and Family Dusk Paddles: River Mammals on July 18 at Ipswich River in Topsfield.