# Muskrat (*Ondatra zibethicus*)

> The muskrat is a semi-aquatic rodent weighing 0.6–2 kg (1.3–4.4 lb) with a scaly tail and webbed hind feet, found in wetlands across North America and introduced to Europe and Asia. It builds dome lodges from cattails, feeds on aquatic plants, and is trapped for fur while listed Least Concern globally.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Native to wetlands across Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico; introduced to Europe and parts of Asia for fur farming and now established in marshes from France to Siberia.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/muskrat/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Rodentia
- **Family:** Cricetidae
- **Genus:** Ondatra

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Ondatra zibethicus |
| Diet | Herbivore — cattails, pondweed, roots, and occasional mussels |
| Habitat | Marshes, ponds, slow rivers, and wetlands across temperate North America |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years in the wild (longer in captivity) |
| Weight | 0.6–2 kg (1.3–4.4 lb); compact and dense-furred |
| Top speed | Strong swimmer; moderate on land |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Wetland engineer

Muskrats excavate burrows into pond banks and build conical lodges from cattails and mud — structures that create habitat for ducks, turtles, and fish. Their feeding opens channels through dense vegetation, maintaining open water in marshes that might otherwise silt over.

## Semi-aquatic adaptations

Partially webbed hind feet, a laterally flattened tail used as a rudder, and dense waterproof underfur let muskrats swim efficiently and stay warm in icy water. They can remain submerged for 15 minutes, closing ear flaps and using stored oxygen.

## Fur trade and introductions

Muskrat fur ('musquash') supported a major trapping industry across North America for centuries. Deliberate and accidental introductions established populations in Europe and Asia, where they sometimes damage dikes and compete with native water voles.

## Ecology and management

Listed Least Concern, muskrats remain abundant in suitable wetlands but face habitat loss from drainage and pollution. In some areas they are managed as pests when burrowing undermines levees; elsewhere they are valued as wetland indicators and fur-bearer resources.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a muskrat a rat?

Despite the name, muskrats are not true rats — they belong to the vole and lemming family (Cricetidae), adapted for aquatic life with webbed feet and a scaly tail.

### What do muskrats eat?

Mainly aquatic plants such as cattails, pondweed, and roots; they occasionally eat mussels, snails, and small fish.

### Where do muskrats live?

Native to North America from Alaska and Canada through the United States and into northern Mexico; introduced to Europe and parts of Asia.

### Do muskrats build dams?

Muskrats build lodges and burrows, not dams like beavers. Their structures use cattails and mud rather than felled trees.

### Are muskrats dangerous?

They generally avoid people and are not aggressive, though they may bite if handled. They can carry tularemia and other diseases in some regions.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Ondatra zibethicus.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Ondatra%20zibethicus&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Ondatra zibethicus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ondatra_zibethicus/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/muskrat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.