Wild Homemakers: Beavers and Muskrats

November 20, 2024

By Ali Groulx, Park Interpreter

Environmental engineers, economy boosters, nation builders – beavers and muskrats live in harmony, colonizing the streams and ponds of the Great Lakes. The beaver is the original, most efficient engineer of the forest. With their drive to block up moving water,

they construct societies and colonies, changing the Earth for the benefit of themselves and others, for they are not alone. Their relative, the muskrat, mimics their behavior in home construction, seeking out a beaver lodge in times of need. The still waters created by a beaver’s dam greet the muskrats (along with many other species) with open arms, allowing for reciprocity between the two and a rich, biodiverse ecosystem for all in the pond.

We Built This City (on Beaver Pelts)

Like many Michiganders, in third grade I learned the true catalyst of our existence as a society… the beaver. Their presence was responsible for the early exploration of the “New World” by Europeans. Through the 1700s, the beaver’s pelt was currency, highly desired by fashion houses back in Europe to make felt. Supply and demand were crucial to keeping the new European settlements afloat, which led to fortifying trading posts such as Fort Michilimackinac and Fort Pontchartrain, aka Detroit. Beavers and muskrats have layered fur that protects their skin from water, which could be turned into luxurious fabrics that fetched a steep price. Beavers, too, seem to have an innate drive to create societies, to build homes for their families, and to create custom-built bodies of water that provide safety and shelter. In their ponds, a lodge will be built, and a colony will be formed as their family expands. Young offspring move into satellite lodges nearby, continuing the pattern of homemaking and strong family connections.

A Queen to Rule Them All

A beaver colony’s matriarch is the sole reason a beaver colony exists. Families stick together, often hosting yearlings and older siblings for years after they are born. If the food stays abundant, a beaver family will make additions to their dams and lodges every year. Young beavers benefit from the mentorship of their elders, who have earned their wisdom over time. A beaver’s homemaking skills are apparent in the layout of the lodge; a mud

room greets guests upon entry, urging them to take a moment to shake off the day’s work before trapsing in. Depending on the season, there may be a stash of treats in the lodge, too. A cozy bedroom hosts naps, where beavers and their guests huddle for warmth. Beavers are more than willing to share their homes and the expertise they’ve developed through time, with their families. And, just like a generous relation, beavers will allow muskrats to seek refuge in their lodges in times of need with both species frequently captured overwintering in the same lodge!

Small, Scrappy, and Tolerant

Muskrats build smaller homes than beavers, and they use lighter materials like cattails and

other reedy vegetation. Muskrats can incorporate land tunnels into their volcano-shaped cattail islands, too, which eventually become hibernation spots for aquatic reptiles like turtles, or hideouts for voracious predators like the mink. On the roof of their lodges, swimming animals can find a resting spot, and some birds even declare their roofs as the ideal nest. As winter sets in, the water around their home freezes. Muskrat and beaver homes located within the same body of water will all be connected, though, allowing for resource sharing and social opportunities in the colder months.

Beavers and muskrats are two sides of the same coin. On one side, the beaver creates a broad ecosystem by constructing a pond and creating a lodge, contributing to all the life a pond contains. On the other, muskrats create small islands and tunnels within ecosystems, allowing for the creation of more specific resources like nest platforms and swimming refuges. As prey, they serve as sustenance to a plethora of animals like river otters, minks, and bobcats. Just like humans, beavers create societies and built environments that inherently have an impact on their environments. By understanding nature, we are enhancing our relationships to each other and to the natural world. Earth is our home, and the more we understand nature, the more we can feel secure, safe, and loved.