Physical Characteristics Muskrats have large, robust bodies, with a total body length of twelve and a half inches. The tail is flat and scaly and is nine and a half inches in length. Muskrats have dense fur that traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy. Their heads are very large and their ears are almost invisible underneath the fur. The whiskers are mediun size.
Muskrats consume about one-third of their weight every day.
Their digestive system is designed for green vegetation. In the summer they eat the roots of aquatic plants. In the winter, they swim under the surface ice to get to the plants. The gestation period is 29 - 30 days and the litter size averages around 6, with northern populations having larger litters. Young are born in a grass lined nest.