I enjoy hiking the trails at ShawneeMac Lakes Conservation Area, but have rarely made time for the last few years. This year I go Saturday afternoon and spotted a muskrat.
The main objective is to take plant pictures. There are many species growing around and in the lakes, I never see around home. I even spotted an orchid I’d never seen before.
Many of the plants are what the Conservation Department calls invasive aliens. I see them as new immigrants as they are well established now regardless of whether they are wanted here or not.
There are two lakes. I usually start by going around the upper Lake Turner. This trail has more moisture, several wet weather creeks and marshy areas.
Instead of cutting across the earth dam as these are manmade lakes, I continue down the trail around the lower Lake Ziske. There is a newer trail loop off this trail, but I rarely take it. The plants are more interesting to me along the main trail.
Along the way numerous creatures show up. Most are the usual insects like dragonflies and damselflies. Ticks are few and far between, probably because there are so many possible hosts going by.
The birds are the most common larger animals. Canada geese and other ducks love the water. Lots of fish fill the lakes attracting a few fishermen.
This last week I was on the final leg of the trail along the lake and wondering if the common milkweeds were in bloom as the purple milkweed were last week when something swam in through the water willow to disappear into the lake bank.
It reminded me of a beaver, but there were no beaver-cut trees. What was it? I waited and watched, camera in hand.
The first pictures were a mess, in fact, good lake views with no creature. I did get a good look at it. Head like a small beaver. Single tail. Muskrat.
The muskrat was out gathering plant clippings to take into its home tunnel. It dived down, popped up, dived down.
I’ve read “Wind In the Willows” with its muskrat character, but I’d never seen a live wild muskrat before. I’m glad to know one is living at ShawneeMac Lakes.