The muskrat Ondatra zibethicus was gathering breakfast this morning near the pond.
He has a short soft underfur that traps air for insulation and buoyancy, and with longer stiff guard hairs over the underfur. The whiskers stand out from the face.
Their tails are 7 to 11 inches long. No fur here . . . the tail is covered in scales. When they dive to move around, the tail is flattened vertically and serves as a rudder.
