I saw a muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) at Carpenter Park today. Have you seen it? It was in the water for a while, then it came up on land and gathered some grass. It walked right toward me! I thought it would run away, but I learned today that they have poor eyesight. Since I was very still, it acted like I wasn’t there. After it had a mouthful of grass, it went back to the water and started arranging it. I assume it was building a nest.
I know it is a muskrat and not a beaver or otter because its tail was long and thin, like a rat. It isn’t very clear, but you can kind of see it in the third picture above.