How To Get Rid Of Muskrats In Your Yard?

Are you worried about the semi-aquatic rodents in your home garden if yes then you are at the right place as I am here to help you. Do you know How To Get Rid Of Muskrats In Your Yard? Hey folks! I am Anna Scott, started my Journey 15 years ago and Now I am teaching other gardeners as well to achieve their goals.

Muskrats belong to the Ondatra genus and are native to North, America and other portions of South America, Asia, and Europe. They are considered as damage-causing rots who dig their burrows and tunnels near the waterways. They look like beavers but are not that big. They are small and contain skinny tails that are flat from the sides. Muskrats are semi-aquatic rodents that are found in wetlands. There are various ways to get rid of muskrats in your yard. 

Muskrats tend to help the vegetation in the wildlife by providing nesting grounds for waterways. But they can even cause damage to your vegetation if the number increases. So are you ready to witness the best methods to see how to get rid of muskrats in your yard? If yes, then let’s get started.

Where Do Muskrats Live? 

Muskrats are native to North America and are found in various parts of the world. Specially, you will find them in wetlands ranging from rivers to lakes. A rare rodent can come to your home garden to spoil the vegetation. These rodents come to the garden area and live in the caves dug near the ponds. 

Its den entrance is about 6 inches below the water level. It can be extended up to 45 feet long. They tend to build their own home in your garden area in dome-like structures along with the waterways. 

Muskrats will come out from their den at dawn. They are considered environmental problems in various countries like the United States, Canada, and other parts of South America and Asia. 

What Attracts Muskrats?

Muskrats are herbivores that tend to attract especially two things that are food sources and a safe place to live in their den. Usually, muskrats come to plant if you have a lake, river, or pond in your home garden. 

Muskrats love Cattail and other vegetation like rushes, ferns, sedges, water lilies, etc. They like to eat some root vegetables such as beetroots, turnips, carrots, etc. Last but not least, muskrats also like some animals like small turtles, frogs, fish, clams, etc. 

Signs That You Have Muskrats In Your Garden 

Are you sure if your garden has Muskrats or not? If yes, then it’s great but if not, it is important to look after soem signs that show that you have muskrats in your garden area. They cause damage in your area. So, some of the signs that can make you aware of the muskrats in your home garden are as follows: 

• Muskrat scat
• Burrowing trails
• Dens
• Lodges
• Tracks

How To Get Rid Of Muskrats In Your Yard?

As mentioned, I will let you know about the best ways to get rid of muskrats in your home garden. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s move forward to know more about the best ways as below: 

Live trapping 

• It is the best way to eliminate muskrats in your home garden. All you have to do is set up live traps with the help of fruit like apples or sweet potatoes.
• Check the trap regularly, especially in the morning to see if the notorious animal is captured.
• Usually, they live in groups, so purchase a large trap to collect them all at once to save your vegetation. 
• Keep the muskrats away from your vegetation by relocating them to their natural wetland area. 

Cayenne Pepper Deters Muskrats

• What about using Cayenne Pepper? Cayenne pepper is a spicy pepper that is used in various households. 
• Another benefit is to deter the pests from your home garden. It is a taste deterrent for muskrats. 
• Sprinkle some cayenne pepper near the plants to keep the muskrats away from your area. 

Use Garlic & Pepper

• Using garlic and pepper together on the muskrats is not appealing to the muskrats, so by feeding this to them, you can save your yard. 
• The smell of the garlic disturbs the muskrats as it is distasteful to them. 
• Pepper has a strong scent and taste that helps in deterring the pests. 
• So, it is suggested to plant some varieties of garlic and pepper to eliminate muskrats. 
• Or you can sprinkle the spices on the waterways to keep the muskrats away from the vegetation in your yard. 

Install a Fence

• Installing a fence is always an amazing choice to get rid of any of the notorious animals from your yard. 
• So, install a fence which will protect the garden vegetables and flowers. 
• The fence should be 1 foot long. If you are installing a fence near the lake then it should be 3 feet long. 

Use Pond Liners

• If the area of the pond is small, then why not use a pond liner which will help prevent muskrats? 
• Make use of pond liners which will restrict the aquatic vegetation to grow in your home garden. 
• Muskrats can cause leakages in the rubber pond liners, so try to choose chicken wire or hard material to do so. 

Attract natural predators

• Last but not least, if no other method works to get rid of muskrats in your garden, then it is the right time to attract natural predators. 
• Inviting turtles and snakes to your area will give snacks to them which will finish the muskrats in your garden. 

Summing up the context 

In this guide, you come to know that Muskrats belong to the Ondatra genus and are native to North, America, and other portions of South America, Asia, and Europe. They are considered as damage-causing rots who dig their burrows and tunnels near the waterways. They look like beavers but are not that big. They are small and contain skinny tails that are flat from the sides. Muskrats are semi-aquatic rodents that are found in wetlands. There are various ways to get rid of muskrats in your yard. 

Muskrats tend to help the vegetation in the wildlife by providing nesting grounds for waterways. But they can even cause damage to your vegetation if the number increases. I hope you are clear with the guide. If not, then read the whole article again for its proper understanding and be successful in keeping the muskrats away from your garden area. I will come back with another informative guide soon. Till then safe gardening.

Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening! 

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