Muskrat reproductive capacity is great, thus populations respond quickly to favorable water and habitat conditions. Conversely, drought, disease and excessive animal densities will limit production of this generally stress intolerant species. Muskrats in most aquatic environments can be heavily harvested by man. Muskrat trapping should be an important aspect of integrated wetland management programs. Muskrat trapping makes sense not only because managers can alter harvest pressures to create desired habitat conditions, but also because the fur resource represents a renewable and valuable product of the land.
Muskrats can create problems particularly during periodic populations highs.
Perhaps the most troublesome muskrat activity is their digging and burrowing. Many marsh-dwelling muskrats live in lodges. However, some chose the periphery of the marsh and actively excavate bank burrows for protection. In lakes, ponds, creeks and rivers, bank burrowing is a normal activity. Burrowing represents the greatest problem in diked wetlands and pond or lake dams not constructed according to minimum agricultural specifications.