General Information: Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are large rodents of marshes, ponds, and slow moving water that could be confused with a small beaver. Muskrats are brown overall and have a long, scaly tail. The tail appears round, not broad and flat like a beaver, but actually it is laterally flattened, and muskrats swish the tail back and forth to aid in swimming.

Taxonomy: Class Mammalia, Order Rodentia, Family Cricetidae, Subfamily Arvicolinae

Where to Find: Muskrat can be found in virtually any water body around Las Vegas that has cattails and reeds along the shoreline. For example, they can be found at Pahranagat NWR, Moapa Valley NWR, and the Clark County Wetlands Park.