This season seems to have brought with it a bumper crop of muskrat jobs in my area. I've done more 'rat jobs so far this season then the last 5 years combined.

My question is...I'd like to offer an exclusion service as a up-sell option. So i guess im looking for options on the netting avaiable and if anybody else has used it and to what degree of success.

I'd like to avoid rip-rap if possible as aesthetics is all important.

A landscape outfit did a much needed exclusion after I took out the 'rats. I was told they used a stainless steel hardware cloth. This doesn't mean I'm out of work; the shoreline is too long for a complete exclusion but it does protect the most vulnerable part.

Placing cyclone fencing out to 6' deep works well . Should stake it down some . Not sure if that's wrong or not but it works . It was also the right answer on the test . I got that one right .

Rip rap will not work
It only makes it harder to trap next time
I usually focus on culverts

Have been seeing more and more golf courses and property management ponds with chain link fence laying all along the banks. Not pleasant to look at and when water level rises the rats just go over it.

But it is the only attempt I have seen in my area.

Vinkie makes a good point. Think, most of your muskrats at least in my area, will tunnel from the water to the problem, I also get them going under ground to crawl spaces. meaning they will simply go out into the water farther. or deeper. you will still get the problem. plus any bank monifacation you do will most to the time will be done with the rats in the dens. so they will simply dig back out at some spot. better to trap the rats, then do the limited spot repairs Rather than try to modify the habitat as far as exclusion. habitat modifatcation for food is a Different thing. I have balk heads that go down 6 to 10 feet and the rats just simply go to the bottom and dig in. the only time I find those holes is when they let the water out, and I can see it. I know these deep tunnels are there because of the grazing holes up in the grass. so most of the time just trap where the rats can be gotten and do not make them go deeper or out by modifications again I can only speak for my area.

Jonesie I recorded a podcast with you discussing Muskrat Removal as an add on service you recorded with me August 27, 2009.

http://raccoonremoval.us/podcasts/qa-on-muskrats-squirrels-raccoons-ron-jones-wpn-podcast/

I've seen people install a sort of vertical rubbery type sheeting to serve as a rat barrier. Rats will go over or around it, but guys have told me that it at least seems to deter them from burroughing through certain areas that need protecting.

^^this is what I've done for several clients over 5 yrs ago and they are still happy, BUT ya gota get the fence higher than high water mark by 2-3 ft and 6-8 ft deep.

For me...my area ....golf courses that have rip rapped the exterior edges of their water hazards have fewer rats. Yes the ones that do dwell in those rip rapped ponds can be tougher to deal with but it’s night and day difference between rats living in ponds without rip rap lined edges.