Muskrat Encounter

 

Written and narrated by Kristine Heilmann, a nature preschool teacher.

 

As my group of preschoolers and I rounded the corner of this boardwalk, one of the children, looking into the water, said, “Kristine, What is that?”  Another boy immediately said, “Muskrat” with his sweet calm voice.  He was the same boy that had had a quick glance of one just a week prior.  I had told him at the time what it was and to my teaching heart’s delight, he remembered!  When I peered down into the water, at first I saw nothing and started to have one of those frequent feelings of displeasure that most of the children were not going to get to see the animal as usual.  If it was a muskrat, they can hold their breath for 17 minutes.  But soon, the water started to bubble slightly and then undulating from its dark depths came a creature about 30 inches long from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail.  Its tail could barely be seen right below the surface, but that was what verified its ID.  The tail was about 25 cm long, black and lacking fur.  The only mammal with a tail like that is a muskrat.  It’s brown waterproof fur was speckled with green duckweed as it rippled through the water until it found a branch sticking out of the water to rest upon.  My heart sang.  Everyone was going to be able to see this animal now!  It sat still for a while as we watched it eat a snack.  In its tiny front paws, it held something green and fibrous.  I assumed it to be an aquatic plant.  The muskrat moved it continuously about like it was eating corn on the cob, but much faster than I ever have.  It munched as its long whiskers pulsed with the action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m sure that neither the muskrat nor the children realize what impact they have on each other's lives.  The muskrat will never know that simply stopping to eat near humans that day will help these children gain a greater understanding of what life is supported by sanctuaries like this one.  But I hope that the children can come to understand how many of their life decisions will affect creatures such as this.”