Muskrat

Muskrats need grass and reeds in order to take shelter from predators, so they most often make their homes in marshes where there is also abundant of their favorite underwater plants. Riverbeds like those of the Concord and Merrimack also provide the vegetation they need for hiding and eating, and so Lowell has developed a significant population of the rodent.

Depending on the time of year you spot a muskrat, it's coat will have changed colors slightly. In the summer months they are a lighter shade of brown, and darker in the winter. Dark fur better absorbs heat, and light fur reflects the sun, so this helps muskrats to adapt to New England's changing seasons.

Muskrats provide a number of useful ecological functions. They help control the population of aquatic plants in the river, and provide a plentiful source of food for predatory birds and mammals (minks, raccoons, hawks, owls, etc.).