Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Ondatra zibethicus
Marshes and slow water across most of the continent. Small hind track with a fringe, much smaller than beaver.
What does a muskrat look like?
Brown, about muskrat-sized, with a thin tail that is flattened side to side.
What do muskrat tracks look like?
Tiny prints beside a thin tail line in mud. Too small for beaver, and the tail drag is narrow.
- Small hind track with a fringe, much smaller than beaver
- Long thin tail drag
- Houses of cut cattail, or bank burrows
- Scat is small oval pellets on a feeding platform
- Rat-like body and skinny tail if seen
What does muskrat poop look like?
Small dark pellets piled on a rock, log, or feeding mat in the marsh. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Marshes and slow water across most of the continent. Typical places: wetland. Year-round.
What to do next
- Leave lodges alone
- A muskrat in a yard pond is usually passing through
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- North American beaver identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell muskrat tracks from beaver tracks?
Muskrat prints and the tail drag are much smaller. Beaver hind feet are hand-sized and webbed.
How to tell a muskrat from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- North American beaver. Look for the webbed hind print and the tail drag in mud. Brown, flat scaly tail, webbed hind feet.
Muskrat field marks
- Small hind track with a fringe, much smaller than beaver
- Long thin tail drag
- Houses of cut cattail, or bank burrows
- Scat is small oval pellets on a feeding platform
Where the sign shows up
Marshes and slow water across most of the continent. Typical places: wetland. Year-round.
Tiny prints beside a thin tail line in mud. Too small for beaver, and the tail drag is narrow. Small dark pellets piled on a rock, log, or feeding mat in the marsh.
Common questions
How do you tell muskrat tracks from beaver tracks?
Muskrat prints and the tail drag are much smaller. Beaver hind feet are hand-sized and webbed.