Muskrats

[bambi]

Ugh... I have Muskrats in my pond. I know that I need to remove cattails to discourage them but I also have wood ducks and wild birds that use the cattails as well as keeping the pond healthy.
I have tried placing traps at the holes no luck getting them. They are digging in the dam I fill in the holes, they just make new holes and I think they have build tunnels in the dam. Where in the world did that song muskrat love come from??? I know I have no love for them they are just a big rat. Any suggestions?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm sorry - no muskrats around here. Hopefully someone with experience will chime in.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Contact some local trappers?

 

[flowerbug]

what are you using for bait? try apples.

 

[bambi]

Thank you for the advice, I do not know any trappers and not really sure how to find one. I will try using an apple, I will need to check to see if wood ducks would be tempted to eat them first. I really appreciate your response. They seem to be active at night or I would try to shoot it/them not sure how many there really are.

 

[flowerbug]

Thank you for the advice, I do not know any trappers and not really sure how to find one. I will try using an apple, I will need to check to see if wood ducks would be tempted to eat them first. I really appreciate your response. They seem to be active at night or I would try to shoot it/them not sure how many there really are.

there should be some vids or info about methods on the web.

i've not had to trap them here yet but they have at times used a drainage ditch as a highway to get into the yard. i've since filled in the end of that drainage ditch so they (and the rest of the animals around here) can't run up it any more - was like a four lane highway! am working on filling in the rest of it now and next spring. leaving it open to the air will at least mean no more easy places for creatures to hide and use all winter. that has been such a PITA for so many years it makes me happy to see it like it is now even if it looks like a mess...

 

[Beekissed]

Controlling muskrats in the pond

Water seepage and erosion could be the work of a muskrat

www.livingthecountrylife.com

 

[bambi]

Thank you flowerbug and Bee, I have watched a few videos on youtube and this how I learned the appropriate traps to use. I like the idea of using gravel to line the dam to prevent further destruction. This may explain why I can't seem to find the hole they created, would never have thought they would start 10'-12' away from the dam, now I am wondering how much damage they have done to the pond itself. Interesting they use the drainage ditch as a highway and we do have a drainage ditch about 75+ ft from the Highway. Good grief nothing I can do about that lol

 

[baymule]

Interesting how different parts of the country have different problem animals. If we had a pond I would be on watch for an alligator.

 

[bambi]

LOL, I think I would rather deal with Muskrats.