---
title: "What the sources say about the Muskrat | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "49 claims from the Muskrat profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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# What the sources say about the Muskrat (*Ondatra zibethicus*)

> 49 claims from the Muskrat profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Muskrat](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/muskrat/)

## Ondatra zibethicus. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ondatra_zibethicus/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A marsh rodent that builds its home from piled-up plants | The nests of the muskrats are formed by piles of vegetation placed on top of a good base, for example a tree stump, generally in 15 to 40 inches of water (note: tagline; quote hedges only the water depth (generally), not the nest) |
| eats about a third of its own weight every day | Muskrats consume about one-third of their weight every day. (note: tagline) |
| Swamps, marshes and wetlands from northern North America to the Gulf coast and the Mexican border | The muskrat is found in swamps, marshes, and wetlands from northern North America to the Gulf coast and the Mexican border. (note: stats.habitat) |
| introduced to northern Eurasia | Early in the 20th century, muskrats were introduced to northern Eurasia (note: stats.habitat) |
| Mainly plants, such as the roots of aquatic plants in summer, with some animal food | Muskrats are mainly vegetarians but will eat animals as well. (note: stats.diet) |
| the roots of aquatic plants in summer | In the summer they eat the roots of aquatic plants. (note: stats.diet) |
| Dense fur that traps air for insulation and buoyancy | Muskrats have dense fur that traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy. (note: stats.superpower) |
| lives in marshes, ponds and lakes | While muskrats are found in ponds, lakes, and swamps, their favorite locations are marshes |
| it keeps its feet and tail cooler than its body core. | regional heterothermia, which regulates the flow of blood to the feet and tail, allowing these structures to be cooler than the body core |
| the muskrat regulates the flow of blood to its feet and tail. | regional heterothermia, which regulates the flow of blood to the feet and tail |
| Its dense fur traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy. | Muskrats have dense fur that traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy. |
| Its ears are almost invisible under the fur, and its back feet are slightly webbed for swimming. | their ears are almost invisible underneath the fur ... the back feet are slightly webbed for swimming |
| The flat, scaly tail is nine and a half inches long. | The tail is flat and scaly and is nine and a half inches in length. (note: nine and a half inches = 9.5) |
| Muskrats weigh 680 to 1,800 grams, and the average is 1,135.8 grams. | Range mass 680.0 to 1800.0 g ... Average mass 1135.8 g |
| Length runs from 410 to 620 millimeters (16.14 to 24.41 inches). | Range length 410.0 to 620.0 mm 16.14 to 24.41 in |
| Muskrats are mainly vegetarians, though they eat animals as well. | Muskrats are mainly vegetarians but will eat animals as well. |
| Each day they eat about one-third of their weight. | Muskrats consume about one-third of their weight every day. |
| In summer they eat the roots of aquatic plants. | In the summer they eat the roots of aquatic plants. |
| In winter they swim under the surface ice to reach plants. | In the winter, they swim under the surface ice to get to the plants. |
| They shelter in bank burrows, which are tunnels dug into a bank, or in nests made from piles of vegetation. | They find shelter in bank burrows and their distinctive nests. Bank burrows are tunnels excavated in a bank. The nests of the muskrats are formed by piles of vegetation |
| A nest sits on a base such as a tree stump, usually in 15 to 40 inches of water. | The nests of the muskrats are formed by piles of vegetation placed on top of a good base, for example a tree stump, generally in 15 to 40 inches of water |
| muskrats also use musk to warn intruders. | Muskrats communicate by musk, which also is used as a warning for intruders. |
| Muskrats are native to swamps, marshes and wetlands from northern North America to the Gulf coast and the Mexican border. | The muskrat is found in swamps, marshes, and wetlands from northern North America to the Gulf coast and the Mexican border. |
| Early in the 20th century they were introduced to northern Eurasia. | Early in the 20th century, muskrats were introduced to northern Eurasia |
| minks, raccoons, river otters, coyotes, owls and alligators are among its known predators. | American minks ( Mustela vison ) raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) Northern river otters ( Lontra canadensis ) coyotes ( Canis latrans ) barn owls ( Tyto alba ) barred owls ( Strix varia ) northern harriers ( Circus cyaneus ) American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis ) (note: Known Predators list; text wraps one name per line) |
| A muskrat can escape many of them by slipping into the water or its burrow. | Muskrats are excellent swimmers and can evade many predators by escaping into water or into their burrows and nests. |
| A newborn weighs around 22 grams. | When born, the muskrat has short dark fur, closed eyes, and weighs around 22 grams. (note: FAQ 1) |
| It can swim at 10 days old, eats green vegetation by 21 days and becomes independent at 30 days. | They are able to swim at 10 days and by 21 days can eat green vegetation. In 30 days muskrats gain their independence (note: FAQ 1) |
| It reaches adult size in about 200 days. | will reach adult size in 200 days (note: FAQ 1) |
| It belongs to the order Rodentia and the family Cricetidae, which Animal Diversity Web describes as the New World rats and mice, voles, hamsters and relatives. | Order Rodentia rodents Family Cricetidae New World rats and mice, voles, hamsters, and relatives (note: FAQ 2) |
| Cold feet on purpose | allowing these structures to be cooler than the body core (note: heading) |
| A third of its weight, every day | Muskrats consume about one-third of their weight every day. (note: heading) |
| From marshes to Eurasia | Early in the 20th century, muskrats were introduced to northern Eurasia (note: heading) |

## AnAge entry for Ondatra zibethicus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Ondatra_zibethicus

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus, is a rodent | Order : Rodentia (note: AnAge classification) |
| In the wild a muskrat lives about 3 years. | In the wild, these animals live about 3 years. |
| Up to 10 years in captivity has been suggested, but that is not confirmed, and one captive muskrat lived 5.8 years. | It has been suggested that they live up to 10 years in captivity [ 0434 ]. While this is plausible, it has not been confirmed. One specimen lived 5.8 years in captivity |
| weightKg: 1.36 | Adult weight 1,362 g |

## McCulloch, Faber & Panneton (1999). Electrical stimulation of the anterior ethmoidal nerve produces the diving response. Brain Research.

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(99)01374-8

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| dropped its heart rate from about 264 to 121 beats per minute | Heart rate (HR) significantly decreased from 264+/-18 to 121+/-8 bpm |
| electrically stimulating the nerve that serves the lining of a muskrat's nose | The purpose of this research was to investigate the anterior ethmoidal nerve (AEN) that innervates the nasal mucosa of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). Electrical stimulation of the AEN (note: AEN innervates the nasal mucosa; 'lining of the nose' = nasal mucosa) |
| briefly stopped its breathing, much like the diving response. | produced immediate and sustained bradycardia and cessation of respiration similar to that of the diving response |
| briefly stopped its breathing | with a concurrent 4.2+/-0.9 s apnea, during the 5 s stimulation period (note: briefly = a 4.2 s apnea) |
| dropped its heart rate from about 264 to 121 beats per minute | Heart rate (HR) significantly decreased from 264+/-18 to 121+/-8 bpm (note: vibe.reason) |

## Xie et al. (2022). Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Lipids in the Scent Glands of Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) in Different Reproductive Statuses. Cells.

https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11142228

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Males have a pair of scent glands that give off a musky odor to attract females in the breeding season | male muskrats have a pair of scent glands that can emit musky odor substances to attract females during the breeding period |

## Danell (1996). Introductions of aquatic rodents: lessons of the muskrat Ondatra zibethicus invasion. Wildlife Biology.

https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.1996.021

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| They were introduced to northwestern Europe. | In northwestern Europe, it was introduced to Finland in 1919 (note: FAQ 3) |
| They went to Finland in 1919 and the Kola Peninsula in 1931, and spread from there into Sweden and Norway. | it was introduced to Finland in 1919 and to the Kola Peninsula in 1931. From these areas, it spread ‘naturally’ to Sweden and Norway, respectively (note: FAQ 3) |
| One review calls the muskrat a most successful vertebrate invader. | It is regarded as a most successful vertebrate invader. (note: FAQ 3) |

## Nentwig et al. (2017). More than “100 worst” alien species in Europe. Biological Invasions.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1651-6

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A study that ranked 486 alien species in Europe by their impact put the muskrat among the highest-ranking ones. | We used the generic impact scoring system (GISS) to rank 486 alien species established in Europe ... Among the highest ranking species are one bird (Branta canadensis), four mammals (Rattus norvegicus, Ondatra zibethicus, |

## Cassola (2016). Ondatra zibethicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T15324A22344525.

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t15324a22344525.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). (note: stats.conservationStatus; GBIF copy of the Red List, taxon 15324) |
| The IUCN Red List rated the species Least Concern in 2016. | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). (note: assessment year 2016 is in the DOI and the reference) |