Some drones, a pond, wooden model ships, and the bog out back …
After looking for 4 weeks, I finally found the muskrat’s dwelling. Made of reeds, as I’d suspected – due to the massive reed damage in the very back of the pond. The muskrat’s been destroying so much vegetation, that I could just see its hut. Some pics of the pond and the reed hut.
One water lily remains. It’s the one closest to the dock, and the canoe moored to that dock. A canoe which was only recently put back into the water, and allowed to swing about on it’s mooring – out over the closest water lilies.
I think that canoe had been acting as a sort of scare crow for the water lilies – cause when I beached the canoe a few weeks ago – the water lily destruction began in earnest.
Hopefully, we’ll have removed all muskrats by next spring. It is my plan. Nothing less is acceptable.
Some pics of the lily patch this morning.
And so, after several nights of marauding muskrats, the trap remains un-tripped. And the apples used as bait – uneaten.
I was just so smug, about my bounty, pre-muskrat. Oh well.
On the other hand – turns out we have a pair of Green Herons living in the Willows by the pond. Pretty neat.
Tried carrots last night. In a trap my son lent me. This morning, carrots still there, trap untripped. But a lot of new water lily damage – about half gone now.
Went to local grocery store, bought a bag of apples – and are they tart? Anyway, I’ll rebait the trap before night fall – and we’ll see tomorrow morning, whether or not I get lucky.
The trap is right next to the water’s edge, with the opening facing the water.
Too much new damage this morning, to the water lily patch, for it to have been done by turtles. Has to be a muskrat. And at the rate it is going, I fear the lily patch will be completely destroyed in a couple more weeks.
So, off I go, this morning, to our local Tractor Supply Co, or Lowes, to purchase a muskrat trap. Neat. Never done that before. (Or maybe my son will loan me one of his – if he still has any)
No deer tracks yet – so its not a deer. Their sharp hooves always give them away.
A raccoon perhaps? Never seen one in the 4 years we’ve been here though. Doesn’t disprove anything.
Maybe a Muskrat, as Ken suggested. We had one this spring. Kicked up a lot of mud. And the net says they love water lilies and cattails. We have both — but it’s the lilies getting worked over this week.
But … here’s a pic of a likely suspect, taken this morning …
Click on the pic, to blow it up – and get a closer look.
Things we have for sure, that might eat, or are known to eat, water lily fruits… a ground hog or two, turtles (see above pic), smaller ground animals.
Maybe someday I’ll put some of my FPV camera gear down there, on a bright moonlit night – and stay up all night long – peering into the monitor – until I can ID the varmint. Or not!
