Muskrat houses

[KDX]

Some people say that the hight the houses are built are a good indication of what kind of winter it will be. Is there any truth to this?

 

[Silverback]

I hope not, the couple I saw today must have been almost 3 feet tall above the bog.

 

[2fat2fly]

Some people say that the hight the houses are built are a good indication of what kind of winter it will be. Is there any truth to this?

Oh, god I hope not. There are several sloughs around that have rat houses standing up like termite mounds.

 

[kell2784]

That's normal, regardless of how the winter will be. They kind of go into overdrive every fall to build them up.

 

[bone-collector]

that sounds like a old trappers tale but the rats are in high population this year with all the water up here, new houses everywere along the lakes

 

[saskhunter]

I think there is some truth to it. My grandfather used to say if the houses were high you could expect alot of snow. Boy the slough's are full this fall and with any amount of snow they will be very high, there might be some truth to it? Kind of makes sense!!

 

[H4831]

Weather forecasters??

Can muskrats forecast the depth of the coming winter snow and build their houses accordingly?
The answer is no. They can't even forecast whether their pond will freeze dry in the winter, thus killing them off.

 

[KDX]

Maybe they haven't learned that skill yet.

 

[bruteman]

Kinda like how they used to go by how high wasp nests are off the ground.