Muskrat

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Ondatra zibethicus 

     This aquatic rodent is found across all of Canada with the exception of the arctic tundra, throughout the United States, and in much of Europe and Asia where it has been introduced by man. Fully grown, they measure about 60 cm in overall length and weigh about 1.5 kg. They are excellent swimmers, capable of travelling 90 metres underwater and staying submerged, when necessary, for more that 15 minutes at a time. 
     Their houses are constructed of bulrushes, weeds and packed mud, with separate sleeping platforms for each member of the family. They also build dens in stream banks with the entrance underwater. Very quarrelsome, even among themselves, they are vicious fighters and have been known to attack humans without provocation. 
     As well as a wide variety of vegetation, they also feed on freshwater mussels and are reported to eat frogs and small turtles. Their chief predator is the mink, but while on land they also fall prey to foxes, coyotes and lynx as well as some of the larger avian predators.