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Help! I need identification
19 April 2011, 23:53
69deerHelp! I need identification
A buddy of mine has a large pond. This spring he noticed some of the sides caving in near the edge of it. There are tunnels in the sand going under the banks. The tunnels were under the ice and it looks like they made some happy homes in the banks. There are no cuttings of any kind and no sign of living animals. There are probably 5 or 6 of these around the pond. Any idea who made these? There are crappie, walleye and perch in the pond and he does not want to loose them. The pond is over 20 feet deep.
20 April 2011, 04:53
FlagsWhere is the pond? If it is in the deep south it could be nutria. They dont cut trees like beavers but can really damage things by digging banks. They have become a pretty serious problem in LA, MS, AL and FL.
20 April 2011, 07:37
James Kaincan you post some photos?
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20 April 2011, 18:55
69deerWell guys, I can't post pics. The pond is in northern Michigan. Hope that helps.
20 April 2011, 22:30
Ole Miss GuyMuskrats. And, no, they are not good to eat.
20 April 2011, 22:44
dave-tMuskrats. Don't let them get into the dam or its bad news.
21 April 2011, 00:34
butchloccould be bank beavers
21 April 2011, 09:30
375winSounds like muskrats and they are delicious. Just take the hind legs brown them, Stew w/onions in chicken stock, thicken and serve them with dumplings and sweet/sour red cabage, a meal fit for a king. Used to trap a bunch of them and saved the meat for me.
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21 April 2011, 19:16
69deerIf it were muskrats would'nt we find cuttings and chewings from winter? What about an otter?
24 April 2011, 06:34
Aspen Hill AdventuresYup, muskrats. Bummer deal!
~Ann
24 April 2011, 08:54
Mike SmithYep, Definitely muskrats. You have to trap them out ASAP! They will undermine the banks to the point they will collapse. You will loose water and stocked fish. They also pose a hazard to your ankles and legs as you walk around, Very easy to twist and or break something in holes covered by grass. Luckily they are easy to trap. The pelts are only worth a couple bucks but do make nice wall hangers if your inclined. Muskrats are in fact not bad to eat. Most people just have an aversion to them because they equate them mentally to regular rats. They are not related at all. They are vegetarians, and very clean animals just like a squirrel or rabbit. Usually they have a little stronger flavour so are used in stews and such.
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14 May 2011, 05:01
L. David KeithOur Muskrats feed on mussels. I've grown up with them and when we had a boat dock, they would craw up in the floation to open their mussels. I've also had them eat the breast out of ducks we couldn't find until later. They do eat certain vegetation but they won't pass up meat. Beaver's will leave sticks and limbs after they eat all the bark off of it and you'll find their dams. Does sound like Muskrats. They, like Beavers are most active at twilight through dawn.
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Muskrats, quite a few ponds around here deal with them by putting stone on the shores or wire mess, best bet let the local trapper's have at them or 22 time has arrived. They will destroy the shoreline unless they are removed
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