Key Technical Points for Muskrat Management in Autumn and Winter

I. Key Points for Autumn Management

As autumn begins, the weather gradually turns cold, the stems and leaves of plants gradually wither, the reproductive organs of muskrats begin to decline, the young muskrats have already been weaned and separated, and the rearing period is coming to an end. Only a few muskrats are still nursing young or pregnant, entering a preparation stage before overwintering. Therefore, the task of autumn management is to make preparations before overwintering. At this stage, the muskrat burrows and chambers should be repaired, sufficient feed for overwintering should be prepared, and dry grass for winter cold protection should be stored. Young muskrats raised together in clusters in the same burrow can still overwinter in the same burrow. After overwintering, in the north from March to April, and in the south from February to March, selection and mating can then be carried out with male and female muskrats raised in groups in other burrows, which can increase the survival rate.

As late autumn approaches and before winter, the pond water should also be changed every other day or every three days, and water supply should be maintained until the water freezes over. Pond water should not be cut off too early, to prevent muskrats from developing red eye disease.

In terms of disease prevention and control, first, around the time water is stopped, feed olaquindox tablets or powder 5-7 times, mixing 5-10 mg per animal per day into the concentrated feed. This ensures safe entry into the overwintering period. In addition, observe promptly whether incisors are growing and trim the teeth at the proper time. During feeding, regularly provide willow and poplar branches. This method can effectively prevent overgrown tooth disease, and can also supplement fiber and trace elements, which is extremely beneficial for development.

In short, in autumn, when caring for muskrats of all stages, old, middle-aged, young, and small, management must be careful, and feeding must be comprehensive and considered from all aspects so as not to attend to one thing and lose another, causing unnecessary losses.

II. Key Points for Winter Management

In winter, muskrats are in a low-consumption stage. During this period, it is necessary to ensure that muskrats overwinter safely and lay the foundation for the next year's reproduction. The key management points are: sufficient grass bedding for warmth, timely feeding of feed and vegetables, and persistent regular observation and inspection.

In the north, outdoor temperatures reach about -30 degrees C. To ensure that muskrats overwinter safely, the burrow chambers, pond, and activity area should all be filled with dry grass. Moldy grass must not be mixed into the dry grass, because the dry grass used for cold protection is also the muskrats' winter feed, so ensuring the quality of the dry grass is especially important. When necessary, plastic greenhouses can be built for cold protection to ensure a relatively high survival rate in winter.

In winter, the amount for muskrats should be determined according to their feeding conditions. Concentrated feed and green feed should be fed every day, and willow and poplar branches should be fed once a week, so as to keep track of the muskrats' condition.