Muskrat in a lawn - Muskrat Removal

Why Control Muskrats?

Muskrats may look harmless, but their burrowing and nesting habits can cause serious issues around ponds, shorelines, and water features.

Their tunnels weaken banks, drain ponds, and spread bacteria or parasites through droppings left near water.

Professional muskrat removal helps protect your property, prevent erosion, and reduce health risks for your family and pets.

1. Prevent Shoreline and Bank Damage

Muskrats dig deep tunnels that erode pond edges and levees over time. Early removal stops soil collapse, protects nearby structures, and keeps your shoreline stable.

2. Avoid Structural and Flooding Risks

Their burrows can extend under lawns, retaining walls, and decorative water features, causing soft spots or leaks. Addressing activity quickly prevents costly repairs and drainage issues.

3. Preserve Water Features and Plants

Muskrats feed heavily on aquatic plants, stripping away vegetation that stabilizes soil and keeps ponds healthy. Removing them restores balance and helps prevent repeat damage.

Muskrat activity peaks during fall in Central Iowa as they prepare dens for colder weather. If you’ve noticed new holes, slides, or sinking soil near your pond,

Schedule Service today to protect your property before the damage spreads.

Muskrat Removal Services

At Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management, we use proven, humane methods to control muskrat activity and protect your property from further damage. Each service is built around safe, effective practices that preserve local wildlife and restore balance around ponds and shorelines.

  • Humane Muskrat Control Methods

    We remove muskrats using humane, exclusion-based techniques that resolve the problem without harm. Our process protects both the animals and your property, following Iowa’s wildlife standards.

  • Comprehensive Site Inspections

    Every service begins with a full shoreline inspection. We look for reed piles, tunnels, holes, and soil disturbances along water banks to pinpoint active burrows and assess the level of activity.

  • Effective Preventive Measures

    After removal, we install wire barriers or screens around vulnerable areas to discourage future digging. Barriers are placed about three feet high with a one-foot gap around tree trunks to prevent gnawing or tunneling.

  • Eco-Friendly Techniques

    Our methods are safe for families, pets, and nearby habitats. We use environmentally responsible practices that control muskrats while maintaining the natural balance of your landscape.

  • Tailored Muskrat Management Plans

    Every property is different, so our approach is customized. We design a plan based on your shoreline layout, water depth, and activity level to ensure long-lasting results.

Our Muskrat Removal Process

Evaluation

We begin by confirming muskrat activity through a detailed inspection of reed piles, tunnels, and soil disturbances along the water’s edge. This helps us plan a focused and effective removal strategy.

Intervention

Our team uses humane, low-stress methods to remove muskrats safely while keeping your family and property protected. Every step follows professional standards and local wildlife regulations.

Proactive Measures

After removal, we provide guidance on preventing new burrows and protecting vulnerable areas. These proactive steps help ensure long-term protection from future muskrat activity.

At Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management, we handle muskrat problems through a proven process that combines careful inspection, humane removal, and long-term prevention. Every step is performed with precision to protect your shoreline and prevent future damage.

Dealing with More Than Just Muskrats?

Hearing noises, finding droppings, or seeing signs of other pests around your home? Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management handles a full range of wildlife and pest concerns with safe, humane, and long-lasting solutions.

  • All-Inclusive Wildlife Management

    From raccoons digging through trash to squirrels nesting in attics, we resolve all types of wildlife issues. Our team uses humane relocation methods that safely remove animals and prevent them from returning.

  • Advanced Insect Control

    Whether you’re dealing with ants, spiders, or termites, our insect control treatments target infestations at the source. We focus on prevention as much as elimination to keep your home pest-free.

  • Comprehensive Rodent Control

    If mice or rats have found their way inside, we locate entry points, remove the pests, and seal openings to stop future problems. Our process keeps your home clean, safe, and rodent-free year-round.

Whatever the issue, you can rely on Bobcat for fast, professional help. Schedule Service today and restore comfort and safety to your home.

How to Spot Muskrat Activity

Muskrat hanging around a small pond near a lawn

Muskrats are mostly nocturnal, making them hard to notice until damage appears. Learning to recognize early signs helps prevent burrowing, erosion, and vegetation loss around your pond or shoreline.

1. Distinctive Behaviors

Muskrats are most active at night or around dusk and dawn. You might see them swimming in calm water or chewing vegetation near the edge of your pond or creek.

2. Signs of Damage

Burrows, tunnels, and small mounds of reeds along pond banks are telltale signs of muskrat activity. Soft or collapsing soil near the water’s edge may also indicate an active den below.

3. Tracks and Droppings

Look for small webbed tracks and scattered droppings near feeding spots or den entrances. These markings help identify where muskrats are nesting and traveling most often.

MAIN ISSUES

  • Damage of Property

  • Water Backup

  • Tree Damage

  • Man-Made Dam Failure

Frequently Asked Questions

Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management specializes in humane muskrat removal that protects both your property and local wildlife.

Our technicians use proven methods tailored to your shoreline or pond layout to prevent further damage. Each service includes inspection, removal, and long-term prevention for lasting results.

We typically schedule inspections within 1–2 business days, depending on the season and workload.

Fall and early winter are peak times for muskrat activity in Iowa, so scheduling early helps prevent new burrows and shoreline erosion.

We use humane live-trapping and exclusion methods that safely guide muskrats out of your property.

Our approach avoids poisons and harsh chemicals, focusing instead on long-term control and habitat modification to prevent re-entry.

Yes. Our muskrat removal techniques are completely family- and pet-safe.

We use non-toxic, eco-friendly solutions and always explain each step before beginning service for your peace of mind.

Prevention starts with managing vegetation and blocking access to burrowing sites.

We recommend installing barriers around valuable trees, maintaining pond edges, and removing debris that could attract muskrats. After removal, our technicians provide tailored prevention tips for your property.

Muskrats are drawn to ponds, creeks, and slow-moving water where they can feed on vegetation and dig burrows.

They often move closer to homes during fall as temperatures drop. Sealing access points and reducing food sources helps keep them away.

Muskrats aren’t aggressive but can spread bacteria or parasites through droppings near water sources.

Their burrows can also weaken pond banks or cause small sinkholes. Professional removal ensures safety for your family, pets, and property.

Look for fresh burrows or holes near pond edges, mounds of reeds, and chewed aquatic plants.

You might also notice soft ground or waterline erosion. A professional inspection confirms activity before the problem spreads.

DIY removal is not recommended.

Muskrats are protected wildlife, and improper trapping can be illegal or ineffective. A licensed professional ensures the process is safe, humane, and compliant with Iowa’s regulations.

Yes. Muskrats remain active throughout the year, but they’re most visible during fall and winter.

Our removal services are available in every season to help prevent damage whenever activity begins.

Most cases are resolved within a few days, depending on burrow locations and water access.

Larger properties or multiple den sites may take longer. We provide a clear plan and timeline after inspection.

Muskrats dig tunnels that weaken pond banks, levees, and retaining walls.

Over time, this can lead to erosion, flooding, or collapsed soil near water features. Early removal helps prevent long-term property damage.

Coverage depends on your specific policy. Some insurers include wildlife damage, while others exclude it.

We can provide inspection reports and documentation if your provider requests proof of activity or repairs.

Muskrats are active all year but most visible in fall and early winter when they build dens to prepare for colder months.

This is the best time to schedule inspection and removal before damage worsens.

Yes. Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management offers long-term prevention and inspection services across Central Iowa.

Schedule Service anytime to keep your shoreline or pond protected year-round.

Why Choose Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Control

Proven Expertise

Our team’s accumulated experience in pest management equips us to deliver dependable solutions tailored to resolve your distinct challenges effectively.

Tailored Treatments

Understanding that no two pest issues are alike, we adapt our strategies to align with your particular situation, aiming for precise and successful outcomes.

Commitment to Quality

Quality is more than a standard for us; it’s a pledge. We use top-of-the-line products and cutting-edge techniques to deliver unparalleled results you can trust.

Exceptional Customer Care

Your satisfaction is our ultimate goal. From your initial inquiry to the final treatment, we’re committed to making your experience seamless and satisfactory.

Take Care Of Your Pest Problem Today

We service the entire Des Moines, IA metro area. Contact us today for the safe and efficient removal of your pest problem.

Service Pages Form
Kayla Lynch Engebrecht

Highly recommend this group!!! Within 24 hours of my “something stinks” panic call, one of the techs, Ronnie, was at our place taking care of the animals that found their final resting place in our vents… and patched it up so we wouldn’t have this happen again. On time, efficient, and very knowledgeable!!

Kayla Lynch Engebrecht, Des Moines, Iowa
Scott Crook

What a great experience Ronnie Hayes came to our place he came to our place assessed that we had a few raccoons in our attic. He even put a trap on the roof and for them out the same day then the relocated them. For a very responsible place.

Scott Crook, Des Moines, Iowa
Jayson Jones

Highly recommend using this company for any pest control needs and or wildlife issues.

Jayson Jones, Des Moines, Iowa
Cortney Dierks

Thank you so much! We debated calling for a long time. When I finally did Blake came the very next day and trapped the squirrel who was the culprit of the damage. He fixed the damage too! We are so happy we finally called, wish we would have done it sooner! Thanks Blake!

Cortney Dierks, Des Moines, Iowa
Alison Kanne
Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management came to my house to deal with a serious bat problem. I have had no issues with bats since they came, and the guy who did the work on my house was thorough and took obvious pride in his work. They are knowledgeable and thorough and don’t take the easy way out. It was clear that they really cared about solving my bat issue and I highly recommend them to anyone with a bat problem.
Alison Kanne, Des Moines, Iowa
Margaret Branwen Dewey
Jared was super helpful, set up traps, and we are looking forward to a raccoon free attic.
Margaret Branwen Dewey, Des Moines, Iowa
Molly Roffman Wosmansky

They do an amazing job with our pest control and keeping all the mosquitos at bay. I really appreciate how caring & respective Gene is towards these animals and rodents…

Molly Roffman Wosmansky, Des Moines, Iowa
Knowledgeable, careful, and insightful-
I had the opportunity to meet with Nicole Spaulding from Bobcat Wildlife and Pest Management to learn more of what she does and to ask questions about their industry, fearing it affected my own (outdoor aquatic stock growth).
She took the time to share with me the ins-and-outs of her industry, genuinely caring for my concerns, resolving them completely in the end.
Grant Sodders, Des Moines, Iowa
Sophia O'Brien
Nate with Bobcat Pest was great to work with! I called in about a birds nest removal. He gave the roof a full inspection, cleaned out the nest/dead birds, and returned a week later to patch the hole. Very professional service.
Sophia O'Brien, Des Moines, Iowa