This is a joyous time of the year for wildlife, and muskrats are no exception. The ice which has sheathed their world has begun to recede, releasing them from the constraints of the underwater realm and the toasty but dark and confining interior rooms of the lodge. Days are warmer, too, and though muskrats are usually active at night, they are creatures of the day and are as happy to bask in the sun’s rays as we are.

Muskrats are similar to beavers but are smaller, they don’t fell trees, and their tails are slim, not wide and flat. They live in wetlands just as beavers do, and thrive on the roots of aquatic plants. Their lodges are similar to beaver lodges in shape, but are smaller and built of the dried stalks of dead aquatic plants. Maybe because of their name, muskrats are an underappreciated animal, but they’re a valuable member of the wetland community. Our photographer Tony Jancek has been chronicling the comings and goings of a family of muskrats, and shares these photos of these busy little animals on their home pond.

 

Late winter is a fickle time. Days are warm, but at night the temperatures drop below freezing. The morning sun hasn’t yet done its work on the icicles twinkling from these crab apples and wild apples:

 
The apples which cling to trees in the old orchard near the muskrat pond will provide much needed food for migrating songbirds, wild turkeys, small mammals, and the deer. Meanwhile, as the sun kisses the water of the pond, a flock of mallards gabble as they preen and soak up the warmth.

 
One of the ducks notices movement. He spreads the word, and more heads turn. What have they seen? Looks like a mink:

 
The mink has come up onto the ice pan around a muskrat lodge and is sniffing around.

 
Minks are opportunistic carnivores, but he wouldn’t tackle a full-grown muskrat, and he isn’t going to find the lodge entrance above the water. And he doesn’t stay long, because someone’s coming:

 
A male muskrat has been out and about, inspecting his home waters, but now he’s on his way back to the lodge.

 
With the mink well away, the muskrat finds a comfortable place to sit in the sun, then has a good scratch and preen:

 
He’s hungry after all that work and grooming, so he reaches under the water and pulls up the succulent root of an aquatic plant.

 
Yummy. Soon he is joined by his mate. They touch noses in greeting before she goes for a root to eat, too:

 
HEY! You’re sitting on my roots! Move over…

 
She’s not going to be shoved aside and keeps eating, so he gives up and looks elsewhere.

 
Before long, youngsters join their parents. Here’s one of them:

 
The sun is shining, the family is gathered for a meal, and life is good on the muskrat pond.

 
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