In addition, the muskrat's ears and nose have special flaps that seal out water when it dives. The muskrat, to keep itself from getting cold or wet, has a two-layer coating of fur consisting of a ...

Pelts can be rolled, fur out, nose to tail, placed in plastic bags and frozen for market. Some trappers recommend freezing muskrat pelts fur side out and flat. I’ve found that either method works.

There is no water where most of the cattails grow. So, it appeared first that one muskrat simply was spending a lot of time in our pond, small as it has become. Then we saw two. Then three.