Muskrat in the pond

[theoldguy]

We have suspected that our dugout has a muskrat or two as the pond is seeping out to the side which has never happened before. It's causing quite a large area of seepage which is obvious now that the sileage crop is off.
We go there regularly to feed the fish and have never seen the rodent. However last evening the boys went out and actually saw him swimming around. Gone of course when I came back with the gun. Is there anyone in the Lethbridge area that would know how to set up some traps? I have no idea and no traps. Thanks tog

[Dewey Cox]

Tell the boss you have some important work to do, and can't get to the honey-do list.
Take a fishing rod, a shot gun, and a six pack down to the pond and wait him out.
It's tough work, but someone has to do it.

[dale7637]

Walk around the pond. Make noise, dont be shy and quiet.

I have always found skrats to be curious.

We killed hundreds over the years in our dugouts. Noise and activity are your friends.

And go out closer to dusk..

If theres 1..chances are there are a lot more.

[esher]

This is what you need.https://www.halfordsmailorder.com/mi...cmuskratfunnel

[Talking moose]

120 conibear trap with a peice of carrot or apple on the trigger right at shoreline will take care of him.

[TrapperMike]

Call F&W first and let them know about the problem. If you don’t and they find out you could be charged with trapping a fur bearing animal out of season. Better to ask for permission first than forgiveness later.

[esher]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Call F&W first and let them know about the problem. If you don’t and they find out you could be charged with trapping a fur bearing animal out of season. Better to ask for permission first than forgiveness later.

On your own property not a issue, my record is 5 shot and 8 trapped in a summer.

[TrapperMike]

On any property it’s a issue. Best bet keep it quiet.

[esher]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

On any property it’s a issue. Best bet keep it quiet.

GP County traps skunks and rats and beavers on ratepayer property all year long, any vermin on your property is open season.

[esher]

Beaver may be hunted and trapped, without a licence and during all seasons, on privately owned land by the owner or occupant of the land, or by a resident with written permission from the owner or occupant of the land. C/P from the regs, cant see rats any different.

[1886]

Muskrats are not classified as a pest or rodent. They are fur bearing animals and need a permit to remove them. Check with F&W and they will tell you that.

[TrapperMike]

I as well as all other county employed trappers trap under the authority of permits.

[esher]

Originally Posted by 1886

Muskrats are not classified as a pest or rodent. They are fur bearing animals and need a permit to remove them. Check with F&W and they will tell you that.

Anything destroying my water supply and livelyhood is going down as it has been for the last 63 years. So i am supposed to throw peanuts at rats hoping they choke on one?

[1886]

You can throw peanuts if you like. Or you could call F&W, get a damage control permit and get rid of them. Easy to get the permit. All it takes is a neighbour or someone to call F&W and your most likely to be charged.

[esher]

Originally Posted by 1886

You can throw peanuts if you like. Or you could call F&W, get a damage control permit and get rid of them. Easy to get the permit. All it takes is a neighbour or someone to call F&W and your most likely to be charged.

How long is a permit good for?

[1886]

The one they gave me was good for a month. But I only had one rat in my pond. Don’t know if they give out other time frames.

[TrapperMike]

Remember we’re here to help each other. Don’t like hearing about guys getting fined. Last one I heard about was a guy who got a $2000 fine for trapping a squirrel.

[esher]

Apparently i have been doing shoot shovel and shut up way before it was a thing.

[roper1]

Please tell me the fish cops aren't actually going to drive onto private property to investigate some problem rats meeting their demise.

Surely there are bigger fish to fry?

[tallieho]

Ole Ralphie saying,comes to mind...Shoot Shovel & Shut up

[ganderblaster]

Originally Posted by roper1

Please tell me the fish cops aren't actually going to drive onto private property to investigate some problem rats meeting their demise.

Surely there are bigger fish to fry?

My thoughts as well

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Remember we’re here to help each other. Don’t like hearing about guys getting fined. Last one I heard about was a guy who got a $2000 fine for trapping a squirrel.

Yikes! Was that in violation of a municipal bylaw?

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Call F&W first and let them know about the problem. If you don’t and they find out you could be charged with trapping a fur bearing animal out of season. Better to ask for permission first than forgiveness later.

I never realized that - For some reason I thought that they were a nuisance animal like others on this list:

https://www.alberta.ca/human-wildlife-conflict.aspx


...But they are not on the list.

Good advice, TrapperMike. Learned something new today.

[HunterDave]

Hello.

“What to do about the red squirrels on your property. Red squirrels may be hunted or trapped, without a licence and during all seasons, by a resident on privately owned land to which the resident has the right of access. Be sure to consult with your municipality about any firearm restrictions.”

https://www.alberta.ca/red-squirrels.aspx