# Muskrat zibeticus

**Muskrat / Muskrat / Muskrat**

The muskrat (*Ondatra zibethicus*), originally native to North America, was introduced to Fennoscandia in the early 20th century and has successfully established itself in the wetlands of the taiga. As the largest representative of the voles, it is characterized by its semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Through its activities as an ecosystem engineer, particularly by foraging on reeds and building extensive lodges, it actively reshapes shallow water habitats. This can be both beneficial for biodiversity and locally destructive to macrophyte stands.

## FAQs

- **Is the muskrat native to Scandinavia and what are its impacts on aquatic ecosystems?**: The muskrat is a neozoon in Fennoscandia, introduced in the 20th century. As an ecosystem engineer, it drastically alters the structure of shallow waters through foraging on reeds (e.g., *Phragmites australis*) and building lodges. This can increase local biodiversity, but in cases of overpopulation, it can lead to the collapse of macrophyte stands ('eat-outs').
- **How does the muskrat interact with the native Castor fiber (Eurasian beaver)?**: Muskrats often act as commensals of the beaver. They utilize the waters dammed by beavers, which provide stable water levels for their lodges. Occasionally, they even overwinter in the outer walls of beaver lodges, thus indirectly benefiting from the extensive landscape modifications made by the larger rodent.


## Weitere Informationen

- Illustration: Ondatra zibethicus
- Nature, Taiga & Waters of Västerbotten
- Native to Northern Sweden