MUSKRATS.... Damage
Muskrat burrowing activities damage levees, farm ponds, and irrigation canals. Over time, burrows tend to collapse, destroying overhanging bank cover and causing sediment to enter the stream. Burrows weaken banks and make them more susceptible to erosion by cattle and floods. Muskrat feeding on riparian and aquatic vegetation may also have negative impacts. Restoration efforts can be impeded when muskrats feed on young trees before the trees become established.