Muskrat
(Ondatra zibethicus)
Uses
Muskrats are one of about 12 furbearers trapped in Alaska and are near the bottom of the list in economic importance, although muskrat fur is beautiful and durable and the meat is very tasty and commonly used as human food.
Only a small portion of the total muskrat habitat is hunted or trapped. Because transportation during the open season in spring is almost entirely by boat, only the larger streams, ponds, and lakes that can be reached by short portages can be hunted or trapped. Unhunted and untrapped areas act as natural reservoirs of muskrat populations which serve to re-populate heavily harvested areas.