4.2 Implications of muskrat decline
A marked decline in muskrat populations is concerning not only for the value of muskrats in their own right, but also for the broader economic, ecological, and cultural benefits that muskrats and wetlands provide. Muskrats are highly valued by trappers and an important part of our natural heritage. In many Indigenous cultures the muskrat is revered for the life-giving role it is said to have played in the creation of the Earth as we know it. As such, a loss of muskrats comes with costs, many of which we might already be experiencing (Papworth et al., 2008).
Muskrats manipulate marshes (Higgins and Mitsch, 2001), promoting greater diversity and providing ecological services to humans and other wetland species. Many of the species that benefit from muskrats are of conservation concern themselves. Thus, the loss of muskrats from our wetlands may compound existing problems within these wetlands and across broader landscapes containing wetlands. Understanding the current state of the muskrat might help us to better understand the current state of our wetland ecosystems.
There is a clear need for more research on the relationship between muskrat populations and the various factors that influence their abundance, especially if we are to understand what has led to their recent declines and if we wish to prevent further loss of this iconic species.