Muskrats are covered with soft brown short, thick layer of insulating fur (except tail and feet) with the belly a bit lighter, head is large and has small eyes and ears. It has short legs and small front paws. The tail is covered with scales rather than hair and the body is laterally compressed. Muskrats are much smaller than beavers (Castor canadensis), and in some states muskrat mistaken for nutria, (Myocastor coypus), when sharing the same habitat. Muskrats spend much of their time in the water and are well suited for their semiaquatic life, both in and out of water. They can go onward or backward and swim underwater for long periods of time and they will travel great distances underwater when escaping from predators. They can close off their ears to keep the water out. Their rear paw five toes and the front paw 4 toes, in swimming the muskrat tail is their main means for propelling through a body of water. Muskrats are prolific breeders and raise more than one litter a year with occasionally three litter in favorable conditions and may raise 18 or more young per season. The gestation period of these fairly large rodents is 29 to 30 days.