This is a seasonal ritual at our house. I hear the mice move in with the cool weather and I get out the mousetraps. A tiny bit of peanut butter in the bait cup and they are caught. If I don't get all of them with the trap the rest seem to move on to safer pastures somewhere else after enough of their buddies have been killed.”

I would like to thank your company for making the "perfect" mouse trap. I have tried at least 20 other trap brands and they have all had various degrees of success, but none work as well as yours. My daughter bought me six (6) of your mouse traps for my birthday and after setting all of these traps around two of our properties, I was amazed at the response. Best traps I have found on the market.”
- Duane Schenck

Within thirty minutes or less of placing the Snap-E® Mousetrap, I had a dead mouse. I used some candy a mouse had eaten into as bait. I am ordering six more. These traps work! I have had about twenty of the old wooden ones sitting out around the house for three week and caught NOTHING!”
- Anne Smith

I'm catching mice every night in my greenhouse with these Snap-E® Mousetraps. They are so easy to set that I don't even flinch any more as I reset them - they never snap while they are being set. I've tried lots of different brands of mousetraps and these are far superior to the rest.”
- Mark Parsons

I love being able to catch multiple mice with one setup. This way I can let it sit for a couple days and catch multiples. The Ketch-All® Multiple Catch Mousetrap is the best mousetrap I've found. I'll be buying several more.”
- David Benn

You guys are great! Just a note to say 'Thank You' for the 2 Metal Lid Replacements for our Mousetraps. A great benefit was when I saw 'Proudly' made in America. That is what America is made of and we need to get back on track with showing the world! Great products, made by great people who back up what they produce! Look out mice... 2 traps back in service. Thank you!”
- Janine Hatt

I have set thousands of these traps while running Thoroughspect and have never found a better trap ever. The traps are exactly what a mousetrap should be in that they are fast-reacting, easy to set and release. In addition, they have a visible yellow bar that can be seen in crawl spaces and attics to see if they have been triggered.
- Brian M. Sweig

Latest News

How to Catch a Muskrat: What Property Owners Need to Know

Muskrats may seem harmless at first glance, but these semi-aquatic rodents can cause serious damage to ponds, shorelines, levees, dams, and drainage areas if left unchecked. Their burrowing habits can weaken banks, create leaks, and eventually lead to costly structural damage. Whether you’re a landowner, property manager, farmer, or pest management professional, understanding muskrat behavior is the first step toward effective control.

What Is a Muskrat?

Muskrats are native to North America and are commonly found throughout the United States and Canada near wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving waterways. They are highly adaptable and spend most of their lives in or near water.

Muskrats build shelter in two primary ways:

Digging tunnels into banks or dams
Constructing dome-shaped lodges from mud and vegetation

In steep banks, muskrats create underwater entrances that lead to dry chambers above the waterline. In open wetlands, they often build large lodges that can reach up to 8 feet wide and 5 feet tall.

Why Muskrats Become a Problem

Most muskrat damage comes from burrowing activity. Over time, tunnels can weaken pond edges, dams, levees, and shorelines. In many cases, the damage isn’t obvious until major erosion or leaking has already started.

Muskrats may also carry diseases such as tularemia, giardiasis, and rabies, which can potentially spread through bites, contaminated water, or contact with infected animals.

Because muskrats reproduce quickly, often producing 2–3 litters per year with 4 to 8 pups per litter, populations can grow rapidly if left unmanaged.

Signs You Have Muskrats

Early identification is important. Common signs of muskrat activity include:

Tracks

Muskrat tracks show four toes on the front feet and five on the back feet, often with visible claw marks and a tail drag between prints.

Feeding Platforms

Flat, elevated piles of mud and vegetation near the water where muskrats gather and eat food.

Lodges

Large dome-shaped piles of mud and aquatic vegetation built above the waterline.

Burrow Entrances

Holes approximately 6–8 inches in diameter located along banks or dams, often a few feet below water level.

Droppings

Muskrat droppings are commonly found on elevated surfaces like rocks, logs, stumps, or feeding platforms.

Muskrats are active year-round and can feed at any time of day, although they are most active around twilight.

How to Catch a Muskrat

When muskrats begin causing damage, trapping is often the most effective solution.

Determine Trap Placement

Proper placement is critical for success. The best locations include:

Along Muskrat Runs

Muskrat runs are underwater travel paths leading between dens and feeding platforms. These trails are often visible as worn channels perpendicular to the shoreline.

Outside Burrow Entrances

Placing a trap directly outside an active burrow entrance is one of the most effective strategies. Entrances are typically located along pond banks, levees, or drainage areas.

Best Baits for Muskrats

Muskrats are attracted to vegetation and starchy foods. Effective bait options include:

Apples
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Other root vegetables

Fresh bait can help encourage activity around trap locations.

Monitor Traps Frequently

Checking traps often is extremely important. Muskrats can quickly become stressed, vulnerable to predators, or injured if traps are left unattended for long periods.

Always follow local trapping laws and regulations regarding trap checks and relocation requirements.

Handling a Captured Muskrat

Once a muskrat is caught:

Wear heavy gloves
Keep the trap away from your body
Approach calmly to avoid startling the animal
Drape a towel or cloth over the trap to help keep the muskrat calm during transport

If relocation is permitted in your area, move the muskrat to another suitable wetland habitat well away from your property.

Prevention Matters Too

Trapping solves the immediate problem, but long-term prevention is equally important.

To reduce future muskrat activity:

Repair damaged banks quickly
Monitor shorelines regularly
Reduce excessive aquatic vegetation
Watch for new burrow openings
Address signs of activity early

The sooner muskrat activity is identified, the easier it is to prevent major structural damage later.

A Reliable Option for Muskrat Control

For nuisance muskrat problems, Kness Pest Defense recommends the Kage-All Small Animal Trap for safe and effective live trapping around ponds, waterways, and wetland environments.