|
|
Article: Year of the muskrat. (through the four seasons with a muskrat)
- Article from:
- Ranger Rick
- Article date:
- July 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 National Wildlife Federation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
SPLASH! Spooked by a shadow, the muskrat plunges into the pond. He doesn't know what made the shadow, and he doesn't care. All he knows is to dive and swim for the safety of home.
So he tucks his small front paws beneath his chin and paddles hard with his big, webbed hind feet. He thrashes his long, flat tail back and forth for extra push and glides into his underwater burrow. Made it!
Later, muddy water swirls as the muskrat glides out of his burrow and swims to the surface of the pond. Floating there, he looks, listens, and sniffs for danger. Then he paddles back toward shore.
On the way, the muskrat nearly bumps into a dead fish on the surface. ...