The muskrat is found all over the United States except in the more arid regions and is common in New England and throughout Connecticut.

Their resemblance to a rat and their musk gland’s scent gave rise to their name.

They have a scaled, rat-like tail, nearly hairless, and slightly flattened on the sides. Muskrats are much smaller than beavers, measuring 18-25 in.

They commonly inhabit wetlands with abundant aquatic flora, including swamps, coastal and freshwater marshes, lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams. 

They feed on aquatic plants, including cattails, sedges, water lilies, arrowheads, and duckweeds. Occasionally, they’ll eat crayfish, snails, mussels, frogs, insects, and slow-moving fish.

This critter has well-known high birth rates, having the capacity to produce up to three litters yearly, each one with 6 to 7 young. They are polygamous, and breeding occurs near the end of March through the end of July.