Matt McCloud

Muskrat management in an urban wetland

Forest Park sits within the city of Saint Louis, Missouri and is considered to be an active participant and catalyst in the Saint Louis community.  Forest Park at 1293 acres (5.2 sq. km), is one of the largest urban green spaces in the United States.  In accordance to the master plan that was created in 1993, the St. Louis City Parks Department, in collaboration with the private, not-for-profit organization Forest Park Forever, began a restoration of the park to return it to its former status as an urban oasis for both people and wildlife.  One of the specific goals of the master plan was to return a natural stream to the park.  Construction started in 1997 to connect all the lakes and lagoons from Jefferson Lake in the southeast corner of the park, all the way to the Cascades in the western end.   In the process of recreating some of the bygone natural areas problems have arisen in managing certain animal populations that have increased to nuisance levels due to the lack of natural predators.  One species that has responded well to implemented wetland manipulations is the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus).  However, the high muskrat population has not only resulted in wetland degradation through the clearing of beneficial wetland vegetation, but has also had an effect on the overall trophic dynamics of the wetland system by reducing the overall nursery/feeding habitat for planktivores.  Park managers are currently exploring non- lethal methods in which to control the muskrat population and sustain the wetland areas as designed.

My proposed research topic will address two questions concerning muskats in urban wetlands:  1) What effect does muskrat densities have on the overall health of the wetland as a  feeding/nursery for planktivores, and 2) What type of control (trapping or cattail control) is most effective in controlling muskrat densities?

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