So we have been through 3 years of drought here in Southern Manitoba and the rat and beavers populations have declined considerably in most areas. This spring with all the water that we are seeing-third highest levels on record will fill up and create and re-create ponds,creeks,rivers and marshes etc..Now I feel this will certainly cause some new areas to have water mammals that have not for a few years. Question is?

Do the water mammals reproduce normally, excessively or do they get wiped out by the flooding and drowning out the kits etc.. Just asking to see what you all have experienced with a situation like this that may have occurred in your lifetimes of trapping. Alot of times if ya have lots of water and feed-you can get great populations quite quickly that I have seen, but I don't ever remember the water ever staying this high for such a long period of time and fluctuating up and down so rapidly. What say you?

Just so you know what I mean is that some lakes are up by 6-10 feet-rivers even more.

The end result has to do with the timing of the stage in the reproductive cycle. If it floods after the kits are born but before they are able to swim, it obviously takes them out. Otherwise, water in places that haven’t seen water in a while are a good thing.

All animals need undisturbed nesting/reproduction areas in order to exist and multiply .On a dry year you can not stock up like you can on fire wood .An yes some will drown on a wet year but if you have good reproduction conditions the population increase . Muskrat will breed several times a year so the numbers can increase quickly it the conditions are right

Muskrats in Manitoba don't breed several times a year. I'd say we are lucky to get two litters this far north.

John, I would venture to guess the amount of flooding you guys are seeing doesn't bode well for this year's spring litter. I'm thinking ours are in trouble as well.

got that right about the cycle

now with wind tides the lake marsh rats will be done, little tennis balls dont survive in white water conditions
several beaver that I have seen in the Red river dig a new bank den each night and move on- their young should be mini football size now, but they are not with momma
The ones that have shown up on the dykes have a short life cycle when they start too dig or go after the farmers apple trees

I Would prefer wet to dry. I’m coming from fairly flat marsh country. Rodents are extremely adaptable. IMO your situation is improving.

Extreme flooding on crick's and large rivers not only will affect the kits but will also make the older muskrats more apt to be victims of predation. New marshes and ponds created by Backwater flooding can be beneficial until Waters go back to normal again. And they dry up

Reminder what this flood is like, only gone down 2 feet- 12 more to go
https://youtu.be/FfKm7bs_Fnk