280 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



the splash serve to conceal any slight ripples made from swimming 

 under water; hence, it is often impossible to tell where, or even in 

 which direction, the muskrat has gone. In swimming, both the front 

 and hind feet are distinctly used alternately and not simultaneously, 

 as has been suggested by Dr. Johnson in his 'Muskrat in New York.' 



"Muskrats are able to remain under water for an astonishingly long 

 time. In one instance, a rat was observed to plunge into a small canal. 

 In lieu of a watch, counting was begun slowly and continued until the 

 note of the muskrat was seen to emerge near some floating grasses; 

 678 slow counts were made before the rat appeared. These counts 

 later translated into clock time approximated eight minutes. 



"The use of the tail has been the subject of much weird speculation 

 by authors as well as trappers. In all our observations we , ound the 

 muskrat, like other rodents, using this organ merely for balancing." 



[Mr. Svihla's conclusions on the use of the muskrat's tail, in that 

 he says that the muskrat used this organ merely for balancing, is not 

 at all borne out by my observations in past years, especially during 

 that time the trapping grounds in the vicinity of Delacroix Island were 

 inundated by the artificial crevasse created at Caernarvon in May of 

 1927. 



During the week trappers, conservation agents and others were 

 busy rescuing swimming muskrats unequaled opportunities were pre- 

 sented of watching thousands of these animals in the water and the 

 following facts were observed: 



When the muskrat is leisurely swimming, either in still water or 

 with the current, when it is not necessary for it to exert any extra- 

 ordinary swimming power, it uses all four feet in progressing through 

 the water. During this leisurely method of swimming it was noted that 

 both the front and hind feet were used, sometimes alternately, and 

 at other times simultaneously. 



When swimming with the current or in slack water, the tail, ap- 

 parently, is not used for any purpose whatsoever, either lor sculling 

 or for use as a rudder, as has been frequently stated, but this append- 

 age merely trails behind the body that is being propelled through the 

 water by the animal's feet. When not hurrying through the water 

 the rump is submerged, as well as the basal section of the tail, but 

 the mid-section of the tail, due to being held in an arching curve, is 

 partially out of the water while the tip is submerged. 



But when it w r as necessary for the animal to buck a current, not 

 only were the fore feet used with great energy, but the tail was called 

 upon to aid in its progression, and this flattened and sinewy member 

 was given a writhing, sculling motion, somewhat akin to the swimming 

 motions of a snake, that evidently was of much use to it as an 

 auxiliary motor and propeller are to a sailing vessel. 



Not only were these observations made but motion pictures and 

 graflex photographs were fortunately secured of many swimming musk- 

 rats showing just how it uses its tail for propulsion power — which 

 should end "weird speculation."] 



FIGHTING 



"Muskrats fight desperately when caught or cornered, jumping and 

 striking at their opponents, regardless of size. The incisor teeth are 

 long and extremely sharp and capable of inflicting considerable damage. 

 Only during breeding seasons have we found them fighting among 

 themselves. In one case, two males were in a pen with only one female. 

 The defending male put up no fight at all. Escape was impossible, so 





