Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-10-19
The MuSkrat.

This, OF course, does not mean that musk
rat fur ranks with that of the Alaska seal
the silver fox, the sea-otter, or even tht
mink; but only that the enormous NUM-
Der OF muskrats taken every year make:
their aggregate value greater than that o
any Of the other fur bearing animals
The London sales of muskrat pelts las
year reached the almost incredible tota
of five millions; and about two million:
were marketed elsewhere.
The increase in the price OF muSkra
pelts has kept pace with the increase il
numbers. A few years ago fifteen cents
apiece was the usual figure for gooc
skins. To-day it ranges from twenty
tive cents to one dollar, with forty-fivt
cents as fair average.
The astonishing thing is that in spite o
the tremendous drain, the muSkrat ha:
decreased little if any in number, even ir
regions where he is most perSiStently
hunted. This is due to the fact that he
is extremely prolific; one family may
have three ltters year, with from six tc
twenty exits" in each.
The opening, or rather the approach
of cold weather is marked by great activ-
ity among the muskratS for like most
of natures creatures in wild state, they
are forehanded, and their winter home
is always completed before they have ac-
tual need of it.
1t is a simple structure, of roots, rush
es and the stems of aquatic plants, prin-
cipally those on which they feed. 1t is
built usually in water about four feet
deep, and rests upon the bottom. The
roof rises to height OF two or three feet
above the water, and presents to the eye
a rather rough and slipshod cone ofStickS,
at distance not unlike miniature hay
cock. Within this house is an air cham
Der, wholly above the water-level, in
which the family lives; and from it lead
away two and sometimes more tunnels
or passageways, down through the mass
of roots and sticks, to the water, well be-
low the freezing line. If the water is
shallow, the animals excavate deeper
channels, below the frost-line, to other
parts of the pool.
Where the banks of streams or the
shores of ponds are high enough, musk
rats often avoid the building of a winter
house by burrowing into the bank. The
entrance to these burrows are nearly al
ways under water and below the FROST
line. They are usually two in number,
although the two may unite before reach
ing the roomy chamber above water-lev-
ell which forms the end Of the burroW.
This chamber contains nest OF dried
grasses and other vegetation, and if cli-
mate and conditions are favorable, will
be occupied the year round.
Usually there is but one family to a
house, but in times OF stress, such as a
flood, or the closing OF the entrances to
some of the houses by ice, family thus
rendered homeless will be taken in by its
neighbors; and since the houseLitself is
composed mainly OF the ruSheS, roots and
other plants upon which the animals live,
TO eat friend "out OF house and home"
may have very literal meaning for a
muskrat host.
Besides eating aquatic plants, musk
rats are exceedingly fond of apples, car
rots and parsnips, turnips and pieces OF
squash. Not infrequently, indeed, they
become a source of considerable damage
to gardens placed near their hauntS; and
orchards as far as hundred yards from
the water will often show little paths or
runways along which the animals travel
at night, to secure windfall fruit.
The fur of the muskrat is dense and
soft, and of good durability. II repels
water perfectly during the lifetime of the
animal, but is easily wet as soon as the
animal is dead. There is an outer coat
ing of stiff, brown over-hairs on the back
and sides which gives the creature some
what the look of needing haircut; but
underneath is soft, dense, inner pelage,
of drab-blue color, shading sometimes
almost to white on the under parts.
Those skins which are darkest in color,
and classed as "black muskrat," are most
priced, and bring much the highest price.
Being rather unsuspicious, although
shy, the muskrat is easily trapped. The
commonest method is by the steel trap,
of small size-usually No. |. The trails
or runways can almost always be found
on the shores of ponds and the banks OF
streams which they frequent, and may be
often traced into shallow water. The
trap is sunk in the trail, partly in the mud
or sand, where the water is two or three
inches deep, and is attached by a chain
TO pole stuck into the bank and reach
ing out into deep water. The bait is at
tached to stick fixed in the mud, and
should hang about foot above the trap
When caught, the animal at once makes
for deep water, and is Immediately
drowned.
Two other efficacious traps have the
same recommendation that the rat Is
n,;cklv drowned. One is box, or tlln-
mel. six or eight inches square, made
either of wood or wire netting. AT each
end is wire gate opening inward, ou'
not outward. This is sunk in the watei
at the entrance to the house or burrow
and not infrequently takes several rats ir
single night.
The other is made of barrel. A hole
ten or twelve inches in diameter is sawed
in the side of a barrel, the head and Dot