So excited to see a Beaver family at the wetlands today. Had never seen them there before. Or is this a Muskrat? It wasn't acting like a Muskrat, and tail was pretty big. This guy was eating the inner part of a branch.
Well, a beaver is a whole lot bigger than a muskrat, and the tails are completely different as I am sure you know. I can't see the tail in this photo. A muskrat usually will fit in my two hands cupped together, and a beaver, well let's just say that wouldn't work even a bit!
@mjalkotzy Thanks for your input. I'm now leaning toward muskrat, after reading how very much larger beavers are than muskrats (1 m v.s. 20-30 cm). Plus, I've seen muskrats at that spot before, but never a beaver. I didn't get a great look at the tail, unfortunately.
He looks a little small for a beaver and his head is not quite pointy enough. I'm pretty sure it's a muskrat. I'd be ashamed if I was wrong. After all, the beaver is the Canadian national animal ;-). Great capture with all the ice around
