Nuisance Species:
Nuisance Fish & Wildlife
(continued)

M uskrats are not a threat to children or pets, but their burrows can interfere with lawn mowing. Most burrows do not extend more than about 10 feet from the water's edge, but if the lawn extends to the water's edge, the tires of the mower collapse into the burrows and disfigure the neat lawn. With a shoreland buffer in place, muskrat burrows are not a problem because the area will no longer require mowing.

Muskrat as well as carp can cause damage to aquatic plants (top photo). If either are a severe enough problem, exclosure barriers are recommended to keep them out of areas where you are trying to establish aquatics.

Plastic coated hardware fencing with metal sign post stakes is used to keep muskrats and carp out (bottom photo). The fencing should extend to the bottom of the lake.