This Muskrat was spotted at Allegany State Park feeding at the big platform of the new wetland boardwalk. Muskrats are smaller than beavers but they prefer the same wetland habitat and are excellent swimmers, capable of staying underwater for 15 minutes at a time. Muskrats have a long laterally compressed tail reaching 8-12” in length which they use to help steer when swimming. Their diet consists mainly of plants, such as cattails, water lilies and pond weed but they will eat snails, fish, frog