While muskrats contribute positively to wetland ecology, opening water and providing habitat for waterfowl, fish, and amphibians, their burrowing and feeding habits can also cause damage to infrastructure. Muskrats sometimes undermine dams, flood control structures, and pond banks by burrowing into embankments, which can impact dam safety and increase erosion risk. Effective management includes using regulated trapping during open seasons to reduce local populations where necessary and installing physical barriers like riprap or mesh fencing to protect sensitive structures. Landowners should consult the Michigan DNR’s guidance on nuisance wildlife and rodent control, especially around dams and shorelines, to address damage while maintaining wildlife value.
Image: a pair of trappers checking their muskrat traps.
