What are some facts about muskrats?

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a type of mammal within the order Rodentia and within the family Cricetidae. It is between 16 and 25 inches long with a tail 7 to 11 inches long, and can weigh anywhere between 1.5 and 4 pounds. It is a semiaquatic creature.

The muskrat is an omnivore, meaning that it eats both plants and animals. Food items may include clams, frogs, crayfish, cattail stems and white clover. The creature is also a target for a wide range of predators, not the least being humans who harvest the animal for its prized fur coat. It makes its home in marshes, rivers and lakes.