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Dark Brown Rodent

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From: David Nager
City:
Carleton, MI
Each year we have seen a small dark brown rodents run from the lawn we are mowing (my neighbors lawn who doesnt mow very often) into the Drain lid that runs under our driveways and out into a drainage canal at the end of our block. I assumed they were baby muskrats but read that an adult muskrat is the size of a beaver. We have never seen anything the size of a beaver except for an occasional possum. We live out in the country so anything is possible.

 
Extension Message
From: Laura Kammin
Visiting Extension Specialist, Pollution Prevention
Extension-Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program
lkammin@illinois.edu
Muskrats are substantially smaller than beavers. An adult muskrat typically measures 18 to 24 inches and weighs up to 4 pounds. An adult beaver typically measures 35 to 47 inches and weighs up to 66 pounds. So the animals you are seeing could possibly be muskrats.

 
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