34 



THE MUSKRAT. 



iinponnd water for use, and hence the animal does not interfere with 

 engineering operations. In all such situations and in swamps the 

 animal should have ample protection to insure a present and future 

 fur supply. The present value of the pelt is an incentive to exces- 

 sive trapping. 



MEANS OF DESTRUCTION. 



Mill owners and superintendents of canals, irrigation works, and 

 levees are sometimes confronted with the necessity for active opera- 

 tions against muskrats, and should know the more effective methods 

 of fighting them. It must be confessed that the usual means have 

 not been very successful. Rewards for killing them have never 

 effected more than a temporary reduction of their numbers. Shoot- 

 ing ordinarily makes the survivors exceedingly wary. While trap- 

 ping is more successful, it can seldom be carried to the limit of prac- 

 tical extermination. 



Methods of trapping are effective in both summer and winter, but 

 when green food is abundant greater care is needed in the selection 

 of baits. With enough steel traps placed in favorable locations 

 the danger to embankments may be greatly diminished. The barrel 

 trap will sometimes bring quicker relief, since it often captures an 

 entire family of muskrats at one setting. Whenever possible, trap- 

 ping these animals should be deferred until their skins are prime. 



Although muskrats are hard to poison, they can be destroyed more 

 rapidly by poisoning than by trapping. Strychnine is usually pref- 

 erable to other poisons. Powdered strychnia sulphate sweetened with 

 powdered sugar or commercial saccharin and sprinkled o\er freshly 

 cut pieces of apple, carrot, or ripe squash has proved effective in 

 many cases. Crystals of the same poison inserted in the baits with a 

 knife have also given good results. Care must be taken to keep 

 poisoned baits where they will not endanger other valuable wild or 

 domestic animals. 



PROTECTING PROPERTY FROM MUSKRATS. 



The use of concrete foundations of proper depth for dams reduces 

 to a minimum the danger of injury from muskrats. 



Probably the most successful means of protecting earthen em- 

 bankments is to employ a skillful trapper to patrol them regularly, 

 using traps, poisons, and a small caliber rifle. The patrol is usually 

 charged with the additional duty of watching for and promptly 

 repairing slight breaks in the embankments. 



Several methods of keeping muskrats from injuring small ponds 

 have been recommended. One is the liberal use of gravel or coarse 



396 



