Size and Appearance:
* Muskrats: Much larger than mice, averaging 16-25 inches in length, including their tail. They have a stocky build with thick, dark brown fur, a blunt snout, and a long, scaly tail that's flattened laterally.
* Mice: Much smaller, typically 3-4 inches long, with a pointed snout and long, thin tail covered in hair. They come in various colors, including brown, gray, and white.
Habitat and Lifestyle:
* Muskrats: Primarily semi-aquatic, inhabiting marshes, swamps, ponds, and streams. They are strong swimmers and build lodges (dome-shaped nests) out of vegetation in the water.
* Mice: Terrestrial animals, found in a variety of environments, including houses, barns, fields, and forests. They are good climbers and can burrow in the ground.
Diet:
* Muskrats: Herbivores, primarily eating aquatic plants, reeds, and cattails.
* Mice: Omnivores, consuming seeds, grains, insects, and occasionally small animals.
Social Behaviour:
* Muskrats: Typically solitary animals, except during breeding season.
* Mice: Live in social groups, often with multiple generations sharing a nest.
Reproduction:
* Muskrats: Have one to three litters per year, with 4-7 young in each litter.
* Mice: Can have multiple litters per year, with 5-10 young in each litter.
Other Differences:
* Muskrats: Possess a distinctive musk gland near their tail, which they use for marking territory and attracting mates.
* Mice: Do not have musk glands.
In summary, muskrats and mice are quite different animals, differing significantly in size, appearance, habitat, diet, and social behavior. While both are rodents, they occupy distinct ecological niches and have adapted to their specific environments.