How Unusual Would It Be To See A Muskrat This Time Of Year?

[tacklejunkie]

I was taking a walk down a dirt road this evening and I saw a muskrat along side of the road digging into the snow looking for, what it appeared, grass. All the ponds are frozen and the nearest creek is 2-3 miles away. Anybody know why a muskrat would be out in the winter along side the road? He didn’t even run away from me when he spotted me

[tacklejunkie]

I drove back after my walk and he was still  there

[Wanderer]

I think he’s in trouble...

[leech~~]

I have seen many Rats summer up ice holes in the winter. One time laying on the ice sight fishing I had one almost hit me in the face summing up my hole!

[leech~~]

2 hours ago, leech~~ said:

I have seen many Rats summer  swim up ice holes in the winter. One time laying on the ice sight fishing I had one almost hit me in the face swimming up my hole!

 

Dang! Swim up Ice holes.

[tacklejunkie]

9 hours ago, Wanderer said:

I think he’s in trouble...

 

You don’t think there’s any chance he’ll survive?

[swamptiger]

4 hours ago, tacklejunkie said:

 

You don’t think there’s any chance he’ll survive?

 

He won't survive out of the water for long.  Coyotes or other critters will have him for lunch.

 

[Wanderer]

Unusual behavior like that makes him seem desperate, so I wouldn’t bet on it.  But I also don’t know the scope of the environment there so I can’t say for sure.  He might have a bank den at one of the lakes around there and is just adventurous and out for a stroll or really likes that grass!

[Hoey]

He did not work hard enough during the harvest season to build up a good food supply, so he is forced to forage or enroll in a gov't program.

[1968]

Saw a fresh roadkill during last weekends heatwave.