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Cameras placed at sites in Illinois and Indiana to study muskrats — ‘eco engineers’

Muskrats have long been labeled as an ecosystem engineer, but the author was curious to dig in more to learn exactly what benefits they might provide to other animals, from invertebrates to birds. (Photos courtesy of Leo Chan Gaskins)

Did you know muskrats may be natural conservationists by creating bird habitat through building their homes? Since 2021, I’ve been working closely with conservation partners at Audubon Great Lakes to better understand how muskrats influence Illinois and Indiana wetlands and how birds are better off because of it.
This was all part of a research project I initiated as a PhD student and am continuing as a postdoctoral researcher with the University of Chicago. Muskrats have long been labeled as an ecosystem engineer, but I was curious to dig in more to learn exactly what benefits they might provide to other animals.

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