October 2007

Muskrat

The other day I went out to check on my fall crops and this muskrat was busy eating my lettuce crop. He had meticulously munched his way down the row and was about halfway to the end when I saw him. I yelled at him to beat it and he looked up at me. Then he lowered his head and went back to work on my crop. I loudly reminded him that although I am vegetarian, I would be willing to make his little muskrat life miserable if he didn't move on. Mr. (or Ms.) Muskrat paid me no mind and kept at his feast. Karen came out to check on the commotion and that is when I decided the muskrat must go! I got a large plastic container and dropped it over him, effectively trapping him underneath. At that point I realized my plan was not fully conceived. While he was trapped and could do no more crop damage, I had no way to pick up box without releasing him.

So, then my superior human mind came up with a better plan. I needed a container with a lid! As I returned from the garage with the recycle bin (and lid!) I saw the plastic box slowly moving across the yard. When I caught up with the box I saw the muskrat valiantly pushing the box, his head peeking out from underneath. I deftly kicked the plastic box to one side and dropped the recycle bin over the muskrat. Then, I slipped the lid underneath.

The muskrat was agitated now that he was in a dark space (the plastic box was clear and let in light while the recycle bin was opaque). Since we wanted to minimize his anxiety we quickly put the recycle bin in the back of my pickup and drove a few miles to the river. I assumed muskrats like the water and there is certainly plenty of vegetation nearby for him to munch.

Here is the muskrat in his new home.