The softness of this mammal's dry fur is visible as it drinks. Pond in Southern Indiana.
Tags: muskrat mammal pond animals muskrat in pond Ondatra zibethicus
© All Rights Reserved
muskrat swimming in a shallow creek in Southern Indiana; note its tail below the water
Tags: muskrat mammal muskrat in water water mammals pondlife mammals of Indiana mammals of the Midwest rodents muskrat in pond Ondatra zibethicus
© All Rights Reserved
in a creek in Monroe County IN; I don't know if the cute little rodent was aware of my presence or not
Tags: muskrat swimming muskrat mammals rodents pondlife muskrat in pond Ondatra zibethicus
© All Rights Reserved
Flickr Lounge: jigsaw puzzle image
My first good photo of this species, taken from a bridge just yards away from the rodent, northeastern Indiana. I love this photo partly because it shows the creature well and it shows action (feeding), but also because the muskrat allowed me to take it, and it was my first good look at just how obliging these creatures can be. I'd photographed them from fairly close range before, but in those cases I'd assumed the creature didn't know I was there.
In this instance, I was trying unsuccessfully to take photos from behind, and not getting anything good. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I moved around to the side, onto a small footbridge just yards from the muskrat. To my surprise, it continued its activity and ignored me. A couple of minutes later it quietly slipped into the water and was gone--but there was no panicky fleeing.
Tags: muskrat muskrat in pond Ondatra zibethicus
© All Rights Reserved
Muskrats are, in my experience, the easiest of mammals to observe if you don't make sudden moves. For several minutes I watched this one feed in the grass on the far side of the creek. A pedestrian came by on the walk between us, and instantly the muskrat was in the water and in its burrow. Almost as quickly, the head popped back out so the muskrat could keep an eye on things--the little creature's mouth still full of the grass it had been eating.
Tags: muskrat muskrat in den muskrat in burrow rodent mammal
© All Rights Reserved