Muskrat's Aren't Cute

If you are old enough, and I realize most blog readers aren't, you'll remember that one of the worst popular songs ever recorded according to some people was Muskrat Love by Captain and Tennille. This song pretty much romanticized the love life of muskrats.

"Muskrat Love" by Captain and Tennille - watch more funny videos

Now maybe that's how city muskrats carry out their romances but I'm here to tell you it's different for the hard-working small town muskrats. AND, I have proof.

I spotted this guy swimming at Striebel Pond which is not unusual at all. What is unusual is to be on a bridge right above him with such a clear view of him.

Then I was surprised to see him leave the water and actually start walking on dry land. I never see them on dry land. That's why I continue to walk at Striebel Pond. Once I spotted the muskrat, that I thought looked a lot like a regular rat, I became curious about where he was going and what he was doing. Naturally pictures were in order.

It appeared that he was gathering something.

Yep, no doubt about it. He had a giant mouthful of weeds and grass and he was headed back to the water (where he belongs).

Work work work. He was so busy. He got to the water and kept right on going.

So I did a little research and I found out that muskrats actually build dens, much like beavers, that are complete with dry chambers and underwater tunnels. They also build ventilation holes which are hidden at the surface by branches and vegetation. That explains the mouthful of weeds, right?

Then I saw her. This must be the reason for all his work. Ahhhh! True love ways.

Isn't it cute how she can just sit back and watch while he does all the work?

But then I read this: Muskrats have a high reproductive rate, producing up to four litters per year with six to seven young per litter! And, they're polygamous.

That kind of shoots that whole romantic notion of muskrat love, doesn't it. And I realized that Mr. Muskrat wasn't building a cottage for he and his wife, he was building on to his sprawling dens of iniquity because muskrats are promiscuous and licentious.

And most alarming of all I read that high populations of muskrats can make the habitat less suitable to other species which could spell doom for most of the Striebel Pond wildlife.

The immoral muskrat soon disappeared from sight.

And I'm absolutely positive that there's nothing endearing about muskrat love.

I Have To Admit I'm Getting Better

I get emails pretty regularly from Firstborn Army Son in Iraq. That helps so much.

I finished my clear liquid diet and the craziest thing is that it worked. I feel a lot better even though my doctor wouldn't prescribe even one single pill no matter how much I thought he should. So that's all good.

And, after being inspired by some of the cast of Shrinking Jeans like Bacardi Mama and by Sharon from Mom Generations (and her 5k runs), I actually got out and walked tonight.

It was cold, and so was I, but I'm so glad I went. There were a couple of really neat things going on. One was a little, busy group of ducks. They swam quickly, bobbing on the waves and zigzagging all over the place. Then I noticed that the size of the group varied constantly and it was because they spent so much time diving underwater. Here is a series of pictures taken within about a ten second span:

They were such a busy, important little group that I decided not to disturb them further.

Next I found the swans' nesting spot.

And I saw this muskrat:

And this sunset:

And then I went home, frozen, but exhilarated that I'd finally felt good enough to get out and start walking.