Muskrats are our semiaquatic friends. With a hairless tail and waterproof turn muck like the beavers they are able to accurately swim where they need to. If need be they can swim underwater for approximately 12-17 minutes! They are omnivores and like to live in burrows generally on pond banks and river edges that have underwater entrances to prevent cold and predators. Muskrats have a strong musky odor to them giving them their name. These critters are about 15-27 inches in length typically.