Common Muskrat, Sageville Marsh, Iowa
Muskrats are not total vegetarians but about 95% of their diet is plant material, like cattails or water lilies. During the winter time their fur is thick and looks beautiful, at least when not completely wet.
I went to a pond nearby today, a habitat where I had photographed American Beavers some years ago, but there was no evidence for the presence of beavers today. As far I can remember, muskrats have always been at this pond at the Sageville Marsh, Iowa and I found this cute critter feeding on the ice what looks like the tuber of a water lily. Unlike beavers, muskrats do not store food for the winter. They need to eat fresh plants each day. The pond was still frozen for the most part but the muskrats had made a couple channels from their burrows in the banks of the pond through the mud to reach food under the ice.
Common Muskrats are beneficial for the ecosystem. They are the food source for a number of predators, like minks, and their abandoned burrows provide homes for several other species. They often create open spaces in the water that is used by waterfowl or wading birds.
Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x, Benro MSDPL46C SupaDupa Monopod, Monopod Gimbal Head @ 840mm, both photos cropped