Are Muskrats damaging your shoreline in Wisconsin?
Muskrats are a common sight in our Wisconsin lakes, rivers, and ponds. These small, semi-aquatic rodents might look cute, but when they begin to cause damage to property or natural landscapes, they can become a real problem.
Muskrats are known for burrowing into shorelines, dams, and other structures, which can lead to significant erosion, flooding, and even structural failure. If you’re dealing with muskrat damage in your area, here’s how we can help you fix this issue.
What Muskrats Do and Why It’s a Problem
Muskrats are excellent swimmers and skilled diggers, often building dens in the banks of rivers, ponds, and lakes. While these activities may seem harmless at first, muskrats can create large burrows that undermine the integrity of embankments, shorelines, and even the foundations of docks or other waterfront structures.
If you’ve noticed sunken areas near your shoreline, collapsing on your shoreline, or even the burrows themselves, it could be time to take action.
How we create a muskrat-resistant shoreline:
Step One: Filter-fabric
This is the base layer of the shoreline restoration that will help water flow through appropriately, but will prevent large pieces from coming through.
Step Two: Wire Mesh
Cheap landscape fabric won’t keep out muskrats, they will chew right through. This is where the steel mesh installation is crucial. This is what creates the barrier between your shoreline and unwanted pests. So, even if they break through the first layer of rock, they have the wire mesh to face. We use a high-quality mesh to create the second layer of the shoreline restoration.
Step Three: Riprap Shoreline
Lastly, we install a series of riprap (e.g. fieldstone rocks) that creates a tough outer layer that aids in the prevention of erosion and muskrat damages, and brings the curb appeal to your lakeside landscape.
Muskrat Control
Muskrat damage can be a real headache for property owners in Northeast Wisconsin, but with the right approach, it’s possible to both remediate and prevent further harm. Whether you’re hoping to prevent future damage or currently experiencing muskrat damage, Orion Landscapes for Living can help you preserve your shoreline and protect your property with a riprap shoreline. Give us a call today for a free consultation at (715) 460 - 3439.
We serve all across the northeast of Wisconsin, including but not limited to Shawano, Clintonville, Green Bay, Appleton, Lakewood, Townsend, and more.