Muskrat
Born very tiny and blind, 2-11 hairless baby muskrats may be only one of three broods raised by a mother muskrat in a single year.
Dens are made of bulrushes and reeds in a marsh or slow moving stream. Weaned at three weeks, muskrats are able to take care of themselves by the time they are six weeks old. Adult muskrats average 50 cm long with a 25 cm long tail. They will weigh about 1.5 kg. The short dark fur ranges from dark brown to light or silvery brown.
The muskrat feeds on roots, stalks, bulbs and leaves of aquatic plants. They have been known to eat molluscs, insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians if vegetation is sparse.
Muskrats live in the water and are able to close their nostrils and ears to keep out water. They also have a set of lips behind their teeth that they can close to keep from choking as they chew underwater. The scientific name for the muskrat is Ondatra Zibethicus.
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