"JUST ANOTHER SWIM IN THE POND"

Muskrat - 6 Photos

Light, weather conditions, time of day & location are all factors that can influence photography. And what better way to demonstrate the variables than with cute muskrats on various patrols in their home ponds.

Two muskrats whom I believe to be male & female, have given me ample opportunity to view the comings & goings of the beaver's little cousin. They have a vast system of ponds that they utilize & I have come to realize they visit the same area of a pond on a set schedule. You can't set your watch by their timing, but they definitely have a particular routine. 

They are also most likely the same pair that were featured in the June 1, 2023 blog, "Make Love - Not War". It was only a week ago, that they appeared to be back at the business of making more little muskrats. This time, though, they chose a reed bed thick with bull rushes & marsh grasses. In fact, one particular Yellow-Headed Blackbird family have nested on the platform so that particular afternoon, there was a lot of muskrat squeaking & bubbling, accompanied by that distinctive rusty gate vocalization of the blackbirds.  But this day, all was discreet with the muskrats except for the arrivals & departures at the "green room" (Photo #1 through Photo #3).

Muskrats can have two to three litters a year and within a month, the kits are independent, being able to swim & feed themselves. Unfortunately, some of the youngsters make the mistake of taking refuge in the shallow reed edges along the water where herons like to wade looking for a meal & it's not only fish that will satisfy a heron's hunger!

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6