Muskrat

Muskrats are found in marshes, pond edges, lakes, streams, in cattails, open water. They build conical houses, 2-3' above water, out of marsh vegetation, mud, cattails, and other nearby materials. The houses are built in shallow water and have underwater entrances and tunnels. Muskrats also make burrows and dens in pond and lake banks.

Muskrats feed on vegetation, clams, frogs, fish, and other small animals. They mate in spring and summer.
Predators of the muskrat include man, minks, large snakes, great horned owls, river otters, and large-mouth bass. Muskrat fur is harvested by trappers in the Upper Peninsula.

Muskrats build throughout the year. Besides working on their unique homes, they build 'feeder huts' and 'breather huts' in the winter. The 'feeders' are huts used for eating without disturbance from predators, consisting of a roofed circular platform made of aquatic plants. The 'breathers', also called 'pushups', are made when the muskrat cuts a hole in the ice and pushes mud and sticks up through it, creating an under-ice hollow.