How to Track Muskrats

The muskrat is a rodent who lives mostly in the water. Muskrats are native to North America and found throughout Alaska, Canada, the United States and Mexico. They are nocturnal and usually you can only see them in the early hours of dawn and dusk.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Examine the tracks. A muskrat's hind feet are much larger than its front feet. The front foot has 4 toes and a small thumb that does not usually register in the print. The hind foot has 5 toes and often only shows 3 toes in its track.

2. Follow the gait. The muskrat walks in an "under step walk," which means its hind feet land behind the front feet. The length of the hind foot is 3 inches, with a ½ inch width. Sometimes you can confuse muskrat and bird tracks, especially if only 3 toes of each foot show up in the track.

3. Measure the stride. The typical walking stride of the muskrat is 3 to 6 inches, while the running stride is much longer, at 7 to 15 inches long.

4. Measure the straddle. Muskrat track patterns are very boxy. The straddle, or width of the trail is close to the same size as the stride, usually around 3 ½ inches.

5. Look for a tail print. The muskrat tail leaves a trail between the tracks, dragging it as he walks, although he often lifts it out of the water when he swims. He can even use the tail as a propeller, spinning it when he wants to go faster in the water.