Round-Tailed Muskrat
Neofiber alleni
The Round-Tailed Muskrat is a Florida wetland specialist that quietly engineers marsh habitat with vegetation lodges and runways.
The Round-Tailed Muskrat is a Florida wetland specialist that quietly engineers marsh habitat with vegetation lodges and runways.
A compact brown aquatic rodent with small ears, a blunt face, and a round, furry tail rather than the flattened tail of a common muskrat.
Builds dome-shaped lodges and feeding platforms from cut vegetation and swims through dense marsh cover.
Avoid handling. Maintain vegetated shorelines and use a wildlife professional if burrowing conflicts occur.
Follow current FWC rules before capturing or relocating native mammals. Never use poisons near wetlands.
Habitat:
Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes and Ponds
Area / Range:
Florida Panhandle, Central Florida, South Florida
Diet:
Aquatic plants, grasses, sedges, roots, and other wetland vegetation.
Behavior:
Builds dome-shaped lodges and feeding platforms from cut vegetation and swims through dense marsh cover.
Nighttime, Dawn, Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Dawn or dusk near floating vegetation and marsh lodges
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Least Concern
Safety Level:
Safe
Safety Information:
Avoid handling. Maintain vegetated shorelines and use a wildlife professional if burrowing conflicts occur.
Benefits to Property:
Its lodges and feeding activity create small habitat features used by other wetland organisms.
Property Concerns:
Burrowing and vegetation cutting can be noticeable beside managed ponds, though serious property damage is uncommon.
Fun Fact:
It is the only living species in the genus Neofiber and is also called the Florida water rat.
Wildlife Laws:
Follow current FWC rules before capturing or relocating native mammals. Never use poisons near wetlands.
Identification:
A compact brown aquatic rodent with small ears, a blunt face, and a round, furry tail rather than the flattened tail of a common muskrat.