Today I learned I'm not the only one to notice all of the muskrat activity, at least on Lake Monona. Biking up the Capital City trail I noticed a furry body on my right. I walked back and saw the skinny tail connected to a hide, but there was no head. The meat was clearly gone and I can be pretty sure that this muskrat's eater was also its predator. Pedaling on i found the head. I took a long look at the two orange red front teeth - same shape and color as any animal in the rodent family. These incisors are for gnawing veggies and keep growing as long as the muskrat is alive. The red front is hard enamel but the back side of the teeth is soft so that by chewing the back wears down to a point as it meets the front. I'm glad my sisters don't have muskrat teeth, or I'd have lost an arm years ago. I wonder if it was a ground or an air attack that this animal was not prepared for. I have been seeing eagles over Monona more this week.
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