 For those of us that spend time near wetlands in Wyoming, I'm guessing at some point you may have caught a glimpse of a muskrat. These small native aquatic mammals look similar to a baby beaver, except muskrats have a much narrower tail than their larger cousins. Muskrats are found living throughout the western United States in or near wetlands. These furry creatures feed mainly on aquatic plant life, such as cattails, bullrushes, and sedges. They will occasionally feed on frogs, crayfish, or salamanders. Muskrats may even turn cannibalistic if inadequate food is available for their survival. Muskrats weigh between one and a half and four pounds, and create a musk-like odor for which they are named. This small mammal has a short lifespan by human standards that may only last one year. Female muskrats can have two to three litters of young in one summer, but typically six young in a litter. Muskrats also face many predators, which include raptors, foxes, coyotes, and their predominant predator, the mink. The next time you are out exploring the nature of Wyoming, you have a better understanding of muskrats and where they can be found. For the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Milton Geiger, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.