Wild about Muskrat Trapping
By: Lisa Selner
February 17, 2008
It is a cold crisp morning in early January standing at the edge of the marsh
just before dawn. The moon above reflects against the water as a silhouette
of a muskrat swims across the creek up ahead. A quiet surreal atmosphere
is soon broken by the sound of a myriad of ducks and Canadian geese in
the distance, and the boat motor while it arduously tries to start. As we
load the boat and set out for a busy day of trapping, we watch as a small
herd of deer swim across the creek, the rising morning sun casting an
elegant soft glow of light. Soon a red fox peers out through the marsh
grasses as we pass by, looking on ever so curiously for a few moments
before escaping back into the safety of the marsh. Bald eagles are observed
soaring overhead or perched atop trees that border agricultural fields
behind the marshes. This marks the beginning of my first muskrat trapping
venture on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, along the various tributaries of
the Nanticoke River. The Nanticoke is one of the most unblemished rivers
in the Chesapeake Bay locale, an area profoundly rich in history and
wildlife.
Originally from the northeast and instilled with a healthy respect for such a
vocation, the trapping lifestyle has been a fascination of mine since
childhood. It entails part of a deep passion I have for the outdoors and an
effervescent desire to partake in such audacious pursuits. I have lived all
over the country during the past seven years engaging in various
temporary wildlife-related job opportunities since college. Trapping of a
multitude of species has been a responsibility in each position I’ve held. I
am now living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and I have been engaging
in trapping during my spare time here as well. It has been a fantastic
learning experience having been exposed to so much this way of life has to
offer!
A fellow coworker and good friend of mine here on the Eastern Shore,
named Jerry, has been a local furbearer trapper in Wicomico County for
almost 40 years. He has been a great teacher while revealing to me the ins
and outs of muskrat trapping in a tidal marsh environment. His passion
and respect for the marsh clearly show through as he relishes in the
opportunity to pass his knowledge and skills along. Jerry used to fur trap
for a living being self-employed, but now resorts to trapping on personal
time both as a hobby and for supplemental income. The number of fur
trappers has diminished drastically over the years in the Wicomico County
area, and Jerry remains as only one of very few who share in such
endeavors these days.
So how is muskratting unique to the Eastern Shore? Trappers have adapted
to tidal flow and still marsh trapping (no tidal fluctuation) methods. Tidal
marshlands of the Eastern Shore generally have moderate salinity. During
years of drought the salinity increases and in the case of severe drought,
high salinity can disrupt the muskrat population either by causing
mortality or forcing them to move to fresher water if possible. Muskrats are
pretty durable critters and can flourish in these salty and brackish waters
during years when salinity levels are normal because of adequate rainfall.
As a precaution against the salty waters, traps can be dipped in motor oil
or mineral spirits. Jerry uses cooking oil because it doesn’t gum up the
traps as much. They are dipped at the end of each season and stored for the
summer.
For the last two years I have been accompanying Jerry while muskrat
trapping in such an exclusive environment. It entails weekend ventures
away from our full time jobs. He mostly traps along private marshes in
exchange for predator work he performs for hunting club properties. Jerry
primarily traps along creeks using 110 and 160 conibear traps and VG
footholds, though during my treks with him we’ve mainly used conibear
traps. Either a 16 foot aluminum boat with a 25 horsepower motor or a
canoe is loaded with 150 traps, all attached to poles to make pulling traps
during high tide more convenient, and away we go!
Traps are set at low tide and can be tedious at times while drudging
through mudflats by foot. Active leads are set, however some still can’t be
seen while the tide is going out, so gauntlet gloves up to our shoulders are
used to feel for the hidden leads. Active leads are quite obvious as cuttings
and scat or cloudy muddy water is seen flowing out. An occasional belly
slide or tracks observed along the mudflats is yet another indication that
muskrats are active nearby. Traps are set by placing them as far in a lead as
they can go so the muskrat can’t go around them. Before setting a lead it’s
important to feel inside to see what angle the muskrat is coming from. The
traps aren’t stabilized by a stake, but rather by their spring in the mud. If
there’s a root mass present on top of the lead the trap can be set with the
spring facing downward. If there’s no root mass above the lead the spring
can be stabilized facing upward. The trap can be set using either the first or
last notch on the dog.
At high tide the next day maneuvering through the creeks via boat to check
or pull traps seems to run a bit more smoothly. It is not necessary to check
traps at high tide but it’s definitely a lot easier than walking the mudflats
again! Precipitation appears to get the little guys moving quite a bit more
and we’ve had better catch nights after foggy or rainy weather conditions.
Of course freezing conditions slow things down some and trapping on the
ice makes finding leads more difficult. But after a two or three week freeze
movement excels once again during a thaw while muskrats re-stock on
their food staples.
Checking muskrat traps continues to be an adrenaline rush filled
experience for me! Although unnerving at times for Jerry when some of the
catch has been discovered prior to our return by raiding scavengers
(vultures, eagles, and raccoons), on a good year close to 800 muskrats are
harvested. And that’s only counting what’s been captured on weekends!
The season runs from early January through mid-March in Wicomico
County. Both brown and black muskrats are trapped, along with an
occasional rare albino. While muskratting we also set for raccoon and otter
where plenteous sign is observed.
Upon our return to the trapping shed, the harvested muskrats are skinned,
fleshed and stretched, yet another favorite facet of mine! Pelts are sold to a
fur buyer at the end of each season. The meat is also prepared for sale.
Muskrat meat is very popular along Maryland’s Eastern Shore and there’s
always a steady flow of local customers waiting for Jerry to return with a
plentiful catch each weekend. Sometimes muskrat meat is worth more than
the pelt itself.
The processes involving muskrat trapping on the Eastern Shore can be
exceedingly arduous work but also extraordinarily enjoyable. It is a
gratifying experience, and one I will always remember throughout the rest
of my days. I have gained the confidence to conquer such pursuits on my
own in hopes that someday I may also be able to share this knowledge
with another zealous aspiring trapper to carry on.
Special thanks to both Jerry and “Tonto” for their input and guidance in
preparation for this article. I am grateful to both for taking the time to share
with me their knowledge of still water and tidal marsh muskrat trapping
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Happy trapping!
By: Lisa Selner
February 17, 2008
It is a cold crisp morning in early January standing at the edge of the marsh
just before dawn. The moon above reflects against the water as a silhouette
of a muskrat swims across the creek up ahead. A quiet surreal atmosphere
is soon broken by the sound of a myriad of ducks and Canadian geese in
the distance, and the boat motor while it arduously tries to start. As we
load the boat and set out for a busy day of trapping, we watch as a small
herd of deer swim across the creek, the rising morning sun casting an
elegant soft glow of light. Soon a red fox peers out through the marsh
grasses as we pass by, looking on ever so curiously for a few moments
before escaping back into the safety of the marsh. Bald eagles are observed
soaring overhead or perched atop trees that border agricultural fields
behind the marshes. This marks the beginning of my first muskrat trapping
venture on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, along the various tributaries of
the Nanticoke River. The Nanticoke is one of the most unblemished rivers
in the Chesapeake Bay locale, an area profoundly rich in history and
wildlife.
Originally from the northeast and instilled with a healthy respect for such a
vocation, the trapping lifestyle has been a fascination of mine since
childhood. It entails part of a deep passion I have for the outdoors and an
effervescent desire to partake in such audacious pursuits. I have lived all
over the country during the past seven years engaging in various
temporary wildlife-related job opportunities since college. Trapping of a
multitude of species has been a responsibility in each position I’ve held. I
am now living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and I have been engaging
in trapping during my spare time here as well. It has been a fantastic
learning experience having been exposed to so much this way of life has to
offer!
A fellow coworker and good friend of mine here on the Eastern Shore,
named Jerry, has been a local furbearer trapper in Wicomico County for
almost 40 years. He has been a great teacher while revealing to me the ins
and outs of muskrat trapping in a tidal marsh environment. His passion
and respect for the marsh clearly show through as he relishes in the
opportunity to pass his knowledge and skills along. Jerry used to fur trap
for a living being self-employed, but now resorts to trapping on personal
time both as a hobby and for supplemental income. The number of fur
trappers has diminished drastically over the years in the Wicomico County
area, and Jerry remains as only one of very few who share in such
endeavors these days.
So how is muskratting unique to the Eastern Shore? Trappers have adapted
to tidal flow and still marsh trapping (no tidal fluctuation) methods. Tidal
marshlands of the Eastern Shore generally have moderate salinity. During
years of drought the salinity increases and in the case of severe drought,
high salinity can disrupt the muskrat population either by causing
mortality or forcing them to move to fresher water if possible. Muskrats are
pretty durable critters and can flourish in these salty and brackish waters
during years when salinity levels are normal because of adequate rainfall.
As a precaution against the salty waters, traps can be dipped in motor oil
or mineral spirits. Jerry uses cooking oil because it doesn’t gum up the
traps as much. They are dipped at the end of each season and stored for the
summer.
For the last two years I have been accompanying Jerry while muskrat
trapping in such an exclusive environment. It entails weekend ventures
away from our full time jobs. He mostly traps along private marshes in
exchange for predator work he performs for hunting club properties. Jerry
primarily traps along creeks using 110 and 160 conibear traps and VG
footholds, though during my treks with him we’ve mainly used conibear
traps. Either a 16 foot aluminum boat with a 25 horsepower motor or a
canoe is loaded with 150 traps, all attached to poles to make pulling traps
during high tide more convenient, and away we go!
Traps are set at low tide and can be tedious at times while drudging
through mudflats by foot. Active leads are set, however some still can’t be
seen while the tide is going out, so gauntlet gloves up to our shoulders are
used to feel for the hidden leads. Active leads are quite obvious as cuttings
and scat or cloudy muddy water is seen flowing out. An occasional belly
slide or tracks observed along the mudflats is yet another indication that
muskrats are active nearby. Traps are set by placing them as far in a lead as
they can go so the muskrat can’t go around them. Before setting a lead it’s
important to feel inside to see what angle the muskrat is coming from. The
traps aren’t stabilized by a stake, but rather by their spring in the mud. If
there’s a root mass present on top of the lead the trap can be set with the
spring facing downward. If there’s no root mass above the lead the spring
can be stabilized facing upward. The trap can be set using either the first or
last notch on the dog.
At high tide the next day maneuvering through the creeks via boat to check
or pull traps seems to run a bit more smoothly. It is not necessary to check
traps at high tide but it’s definitely a lot easier than walking the mudflats
again! Precipitation appears to get the little guys moving quite a bit more
and we’ve had better catch nights after foggy or rainy weather conditions.
Of course freezing conditions slow things down some and trapping on the
ice makes finding leads more difficult. But after a two or three week freeze
movement excels once again during a thaw while muskrats re-stock on
their food staples.
Checking muskrat traps continues to be an adrenaline rush filled
experience for me! Although unnerving at times for Jerry when some of the
catch has been discovered prior to our return by raiding scavengers
(vultures, eagles, and raccoons), on a good year close to 800 muskrats are
harvested. And that’s only counting what’s been captured on weekends!
The season runs from early January through mid-March in Wicomico
County. Both brown and black muskrats are trapped, along with an
occasional rare albino. While muskratting we also set for raccoon and otter
where plenteous sign is observed.
Upon our return to the trapping shed, the harvested muskrats are skinned,
fleshed and stretched, yet another favorite facet of mine! Pelts are sold to a
fur buyer at the end of each season. The meat is also prepared for sale.
Muskrat meat is very popular along Maryland’s Eastern Shore and there’s
always a steady flow of local customers waiting for Jerry to return with a
plentiful catch each weekend. Sometimes muskrat meat is worth more than
the pelt itself.
The processes involving muskrat trapping on the Eastern Shore can be
exceedingly arduous work but also extraordinarily enjoyable. It is a
gratifying experience, and one I will always remember throughout the rest
of my days. I have gained the confidence to conquer such pursuits on my
own in hopes that someday I may also be able to share this knowledge
with another zealous aspiring trapper to carry on.
Special thanks to both Jerry and “Tonto” for their input and guidance in
preparation for this article. I am grateful to both for taking the time to share
with me their knowledge of still water and tidal marsh muskrat trapping
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Happy trapping!
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