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Author Topic: Floods and the effects on Muskrat Populations  (Read 425 times)

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Offline Dave Lyons

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Floods and the effects on Muskrat Populations
« on: June 15, 2004, 06:49:37 PM »
Well what do some think about this topic.

The Grand River water shed has been at or above flood stage for all of May and part of June.  What was good catail marsh is now one big lake that is suppose to be a river.

Dave
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Offline Bogmaster

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Floods and the effects on Muskrat Populatio
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2004, 08:01:19 PM »
Dave,flooding definately takes its toll on Muskrats.In years that our Minnesota river floods,rat populations are lower in the river valley.
 It seems to affect the young more so than adults.You may find that the floods of may and june , are not as detrimental to the population as march and april floods,when there are more new born rats.Lets hope that is the case here.
 Tom
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Offline RdFx

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Rat populations
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2004, 08:16:56 PM »
What Tom says is usually the case but with the down turn of rat populations every year for the past 7 or more years  i dont see much of a upswing in rats.  Some attibute part of the down turn to more rapture populations but years ago  we had  high pop  with same conditions now  and still had alot of rats.........others say it has to do with pollution and its affecting rats....... anybody else with a  idea what might be causing the low rat populations?
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Offline Bogmaster

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Floods and the effects on Muskrat Populatio
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2004, 06:40:52 AM »
Lee,many years ago,when both Raptor and rat populations were high,we had one thing we dont today.About 10 times more rat habitat.
 With the rat habitat dwindling,and our raptor population on the upswing,Rats never get a chance.
 Most areas I trap,have huge Hawk,Eagle and Horned Owl populations.They just sit and wait for a rat to show its furry face.
 Many of these ponds were good for 30 or 40 rats every season.It isnt chemicals that have done them in,as the farmers retired years ago.What is present in large numbers,that wasnt 20 and 30 years ago is Raptors.
 So ponds that were good for dozens of rats year after year,are now good for 4 or 5,if you are lucky--still good cattails--just no rats.
 Tom
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If you need trapping supplies---call ,E-mail , or PM me . Home of Tom Olson's Mound Master Beaver Lures  ,Blackies Blend--lures and baits.Snare supplies,Dye ,dip,wax,Large assortment of gloves and Choppers-at very good prices.Hardware,snares,cable restraints and more!Give me a call(651) 436-2539
  I now also carry --- The WIEBE line of Knives and their new 8 and 12 inch fleshing Knives.

Offline Mallard

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Floods and the effects on Muskrat Populatio
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2004, 06:28:17 AM »
I'm of the opinion that the further north you go, the more detremental the flooding becomes to rat populations. It seems that most females in my parts have one litter, and maybe 2. I say this based on the size ranges I see during season. One season we may have had two litters because I was seeing the typical small (12" on the stretchers) rats, but also saw very small paper rats as well in the same body of water kind of suggesting there was two litters that season? I'm not certain how quickly a female can initiate a second litter, but coincidently the year I thought I saw two litters was also a year with heavy spring rains and flooding. I  understand in some regions south of me 2-3 litters of 8-12 rats is common place.

As far as what is causing population decreases? I don't really have any idea. I had always sided with the polution angle, but after talking with Tom at the FTA convention I now can't help thinking the increase in birds of prey species may indeed be a primary factor.
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Offline Dave Lyons

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Floods and the effects on Muskrat Populatio
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2004, 07:06:24 AM »
This is good guys very interesting for sure.

Dave
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Offline Appleknocker

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Rat Decline
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2004, 09:18:56 AM »
Water levels have played a big part in the decline of rat populations in Central Lower Michigan.  You can still see alot of cattails but they are in mud only - NO WATER.  There are many, many places like that in this part of the state.  Now this year we have alot of rain, more than normal, but we need a couple of years like this to elevate the water level where there would be sufficient water to harbor rats year around.  I also agree with Tom about the raptors.  Where I trap rats in the UP there is stable water condidtion but the rats have still declined.  What has really increased is owls, hawks and eagles, and all three will do a number on the rats.  What rats are there are back in the brush where it is safe from AIR ATTACK!
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Offline RdFx

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Raptors vs rats
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2004, 11:23:43 AM »
Now that i think about it  the only place ive been getting rats has been in way back in the woods brushy bvr ponds..... In fact two yrs ago the only rats i got were from a very brushy bvr pond with hardly any open water.   If Rats brought money in like deer and wolves here in Wisconsin we would know what the problem was!
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Offline foxtail

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Floods and the effects on Muskrat Populatio
« Reply #8 on: June 19, 2004, 11:06:31 AM »
Quote
If Rats brought money in like deer and wolves here in Wisconsin we would know what the problem was!


Boy, you aren't kidding about that.

And if it was found that the raptors ARE the problem, you can bet that something would be done with them too.[/quote]
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