This water mammal might well be a miniature beaver to the casual
observer, with the one distinguishing feature of having a long, scaly
tail flattened in the vertical plane instead of the beaver's broad,
flat tail. Length not more than 2 feet. When swimming, only a small
portion of the top of the animal shows above water, along with a thin
edge of the tail, which is used with a sculling and rudder effect.
Muskrat are common in the Park, often living in beaver-made ponds. They
are therefore often confused with beaver by the uninitiated, but if
attention is given to the size and tail characteristics, there will be
no identification difficulty. The muskrat or "rats," as they are often
called, build dens in the banks of the ponds and more rarely in this
region, small grass and mud lodges. Their principal foods are rushes,
grass, and water plants. In ponds containing active muskrat these plants
are often found cut and floating near the banks.
[Illustration: Weasel changing from brown summer coat to white
winter fur]
[Illustration: Photo by D. J. Obee
Badger]
[Illustration: Porcupine]
[Illustration: Muskrat]