The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks posted on its Facebook asking the public for assistance in collecting muskrat carcasses for a multi-state health assessment during the 2024-2025 fur harvesting season. Muskrats play an important role in the ecosystem, but their populations are declining nationwide. KDWP seeks 50 specimens (up to two per county) to be tested for diseases and toxicants at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study lab, marking the first large-scale health assessment of the species.
To participate:
- Skin your catch as usual.
- Freeze the carcass with the skull within 24 hours of capture.
- Download the carcass tag at [link].
- Place the completed tag in a plastic sandwich bag and attach it to the carcass in a grocery bag.
- Arrange a pick-up by contacting the furbearer biologist at (620) 342-0658 or matt.peek@ks.gov.
For more information visit KDWP’s website.
