35-629: The Beechcraft CT-134 Musketeer is a military training derivative of the Musketeer built by Beechcraft for the Canadian Armed Forces . The CT-134 was a single engine, low-wing, four-seat light aircraft with fixed landing gear and a limited aerobatic capability. In the early 1960s, the Royal Canadian Air Force ’s standard elementary training aircraft was the de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk . Flight instruction
70-431: A general sense because they are medium-sized rodents with an adaptable lifestyle and an omnivorous diet. They are not, however, members of the genus Rattus . They are not closely related to beavers , with which they share habitat and general appearance. The muskrat's name probably comes from a word of Algonquian (possibly Powhatan ) origin, muscascus (literally "it is red", so called for its colorings), or from
105-401: A small amount of thrust, with their webbed hind feet being the main means of propulsion , and the unique tail mainly important in directional stability. Muskrats spend most of their time in the water and can swim underwater for 12 to 17 minutes. They live in families of a male and female pair and their young. They build nests to protect themselves from the cold and predators, often burrowed into
140-401: A year. Muskrat populations appear to go through a regular pattern of rise and dramatic decline spread over a six- to 10-year period. Some other rodents, including famously the muskrat's close relatives, such as the lemmings, go through the same type of population changes. Native Americans have long considered the muskrat to be an important animal. Some predict winter snowfall levels by observing
175-512: Is almost certainly the most prominent and heaviest member of the diverse family Cricetidae , which includes all voles , lemmings , and most mice native to the Americas, and hamsters in Eurasia. The muskrat is much smaller than a beaver ( Castor canadensis ), with which they often share a habitat. Muskrats are covered with short, thick fur, which is medium to dark brown or black, with
210-482: Is found in wetlands over various climates and habitats. It has crucial effects on the ecology of wetlands, and is a resource of food and fur for humans. Adult muskrats weigh 0.6–2 kg ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 – 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 lb), with a body length (excluding the tail) of 20–35 cm (8–14 in). They are covered with short, thick fur of medium to dark brown color. Their long tails, covered with scales rather than hair, are laterally compressed and generate
245-594: Is particularly concerning in areas with delicate ecosystems, where they can outcompete or displace native species. Several European countries have implemented control measures and eradication programs to manage muskrat populations and mitigate their impact. Muskrats normally live in families consisting of a male and female and their young. During the spring, they often fight with other muskrats over territory and potential mates. Many are injured or killed in these fights. Muskrat families build nests to protect themselves and their young from cold and predators. Muskrats burrow into
280-526: The Abenaki native word mòskwas , as seen in the archaic English name for the animal, musquash . Because of the association with the " musky " odor, which the muskrat uses to mark its territory, and its flattened tail, the name became altered to musk-beaver; later it became "muskrat" due to its resemblance to rats. Similarly, its specific name zibethicus means "musky", being the adjective of zibethus " civet musk ; civet ". The genus name comes from
315-933: The BBC David Attenborough wildlife documentary The Life of Mammals . Plant materials compose about 95% of their diets, but they also eat small animals, such as freshwater mussels , frogs , crayfish , fish , and small turtles . Muskrats follow trails they make in swamps and ponds. They continue to follow their trails under the ice when the water freezes. Muskrats provide an important food resource for many other animals, including mink , foxes , cougars , coyotes , wolves , lynx , bobcats , raccoons , bears , wolverines , eagles , hawks , large owls , snakes , alligators , and bull sharks . Otters , snapping turtles , herons , bullfrogs , large fish such as pike and largemouth bass , and predatory land reptiles such as monitor lizards prey on baby muskrats. Caribou , moose , and elk sometimes feed on
350-456: The Huron word for the animal, ondathra , and entered Neo-Latin as Ondatra via French. An adult muskrat is about 40–70 cm (16–28 in) long, half of that length being the tail, and weighs 0.6–2 kg ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 – 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 lb). That is about four times the weight of the brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus ), though an adult muskrat is only slightly longer. It
385-478: The 20th century and have become an invasive species in northwestern Europe. They primarily inhabit wetlands, areas in or near saline and freshwater wetlands, rivers, lakes, or ponds. They are not found in Florida, where the round-tailed muskrat , or Florida water rat ( Neofiber alleni ), fills their ecological niche . Their populations naturally cycle; in areas where they become abundant, they can remove much of
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#1732783315958420-846: The CF as CT-134A Musketeer II . These were numbered 134025-134048. The CT-134 was approved for limited aerobatics, including loops, rolls, chandelles and lazy eights . Both batches of Musketeers served with 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School and the Canadian Forces Flying Instructor School at CFB Portage la Prairie Manitoba and the Canadian Forces Central Flying School , in Winnipeg , until they were replaced by Slingsby Fireflys operated under contract by Bombardier Aerospace in 1992. During their 21 years of service,
455-469: The CT-134 and CT-134A fleet at 3 CFFTS trained about 5,000 Canadian military pilot graduates. In operational service, the CT-134 suffered very few accidents. One of the few serious accidents occurred on 23 March 1990 when Musketeer 134229 had an engine failure on take-off from Erickson Municipal Airport at Erickson, Manitoba , while giving familiarization flights to Royal Canadian Air Cadets . The accident
490-559: The O-360-A4G engine of 180 hp (130 kW), modified by the addition of a cowling strake , horizontal stabilizer strake and ventral fin to improve spin recovery performance. They were initially serial numbered as 13401-13424, but were re-numbered 134001-134024 to avoid confusion with other CF aircraft serial numbers. The initial batch of CT-134s was replaced in late 1981 with a purchase of twenty-four more aircraft. These were 1982 model Beechcraft C23 Sundowners and were designated by
525-500: The bank with an underwater entrance in streams, ponds, or lakes. These entrances are 15–20 cm (6–8 in) wide. In marshes, push-ups are constructed from vegetation and mud. These push-ups are up to 90 cm (3 ft) in height. In snowy areas, they keep the openings to their push-ups closed by plugging them with vegetation, which they replace daily. Some muskrat push-ups are swept away in spring floods and must be replaced yearly. Muskrats also build feeding platforms constructed in
560-454: The bank with an underwater entrance. Muskrats feed mostly on cattail and other aquatic vegetation but also eat small animals. Ondatra zibethicus is the only extant species in the genus Ondatra ; its closest relative is the round-tailed muskrat ( Neofiber alleni ). It is the largest species in the subfamily Arvicolinae , which includes 142 other species of rodents, mostly voles and lemmings . Muskrats are referred to as " rats " in
595-615: The belly a bit lighter ( countershaded ); as the animal ages, it turns partly gray. The fur has two layers, which protect it from cold water. They have long tails covered with scales rather than hair. To aid in swimming, their tails are slightly flattened vertically, a shape that is unique to them. When they walk on land, their tails drag on the ground, which makes their tracks easy to recognize. Muskrats spend most of their time in water and are well suited to their semiaquatic life. They can swim underwater for 12 to 17 minutes. Their bodies, like those of seals and whales , are less sensitive to
630-477: The buildup of carbon dioxide than those of most other mammals. They can close off their ears to keep water out. Their hind feet are partially webbed and are their primary means of propulsion. Their tail functions as a rudder, controlling the direction they swim. Muskrats are found in most of Canada, the United States, and a small part of northern Mexico. They were introduced to Europe at the beginning of
665-465: The details below. Request from 172.68.168.236 via cp1112 cp1112, Varnish XID 946782805 Upstream caches: cp1112 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:41:56 GMT Muskrat Castor zibethicus Linnaeus, 1766 The muskrat or common muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus ) is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat
700-464: The eating of flesh, except for fish, is prohibited); this tradition dates back to at least the early 19th century. In 2019, it was reported that a series of muskrat dinners were held during Lent in the areas along the Detroit River , with up to 900 muskrats being consumed at a single dinner. The preparation involved the removal of the musk glands and the gutting and cleaning of the carcass before
735-485: The meat was parboiled for four hours with onion and garlic and finally fried. Muskrat fur is warm, becoming prime in northern North America at the beginning of December. In the early 20th century, the trapping of the animal for its fur became an important industry there. During that era, the fur was specially trimmed and dyed to be sold widely in the US as "Hudson seal" fur. Muskrats were introduced at that time to Europe as
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#1732783315958770-651: The muskrat has been included in the list of invasive alien species of Union concern (the Union list) since August 2, 2017. This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union . Muskrats were introduced to Europe in the early 20th century for fur farming. In many European countries, muskrats have become problematic, damaging flood control systems, crops, and river banks with burrowing activities. Their presence
805-418: The muskrat industry by eating muskrats caught in traps or taking skins left out to dry. Muskrats, like most rodents, are prolific breeders. Females can have two or three litters a year of six to eight young each. The babies are born small and hairless and weigh only about 22 g (340 gr). In southern environments, young muskrats mature in six months, while in colder northern environments, it takes about
840-680: The muskrat populations have declined by at least one-half in 34 US states. The collapse was near-total, between 90 and 99 percent in a handful of states. Rhode Island's muskrat populations are estimated to be roughly 15 percent of what they were several decades ago. The decline in muskrat populations began in the 1990s and early 2000s. Ondatra zibethicus has 16 subspecies: O.z. albus , O.z. aquihnis , O.z. bemardi , O.z. cinnamominus , O.z. macrodom , O.z. mergens , O.z. obscurus , O.z. occipitalis , O.z. osoyoosensis , O.z. pallidus , O.z.ripensis , O.z. rivalicus , O.z. roidmani , O.z. spatulatus , O.z. zalaphus and O.z. zibethicus . In Europe,
875-576: The nickname Muskrat . Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83 General characteristics Performance Avionics Standard instrument fit with radios and navigation equipment such as VOR/LOC Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Beechcraft Musketeer Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include
910-434: The result of alligator predation. While much wetland habitat has been eliminated due to human activity, new muskrat habitat has been created by the construction of canals or irrigation channels (e.g., acequias ), and the muskrat remains widespread. They can live alongside streams that contain the sulfurous water that drains away from coal mines. Fish and frogs perish in such streams, yet muskrats may thrive and occupy
945-503: The size and timing of muskrat lodge construction. In several Native American creation myths , the muskrat dives to the bottom of the primordial sea to bring up the mud from which the earth is created after other animals have failed in the task. Muskrats have sometimes been a food resource for North Americans. In the southeastern portion of Michigan , a longstanding dispensation allows Catholics to consume muskrat as their Friday penance, on Ash Wednesday , and on Lenten Fridays (when
980-449: The structural problems they all suffered from years of aerobatics. Instead, they were donated to museums or used for air force and civil maintenance training. Some CT-134s still serve as monuments at a few current and former Canadian Forces Bases as well as Royal Canadian Legion halls, a distinction held by very few light aircraft in this class. In Canadian military service, the aircraft was referred to by student and instructor pilots by
1015-446: The vegetation in wetlands. They are thought to play a major role in determining the vegetation of prairie wetlands in particular. They also selectively remove preferred plant species, thereby changing the abundance of plant species in many kinds of wetlands. Species commonly eaten include cattail and yellow water lily . Alligators are thought to be an important natural predator, and the absence of muskrats from Florida may, in part, be
1050-588: The vegetation which makes up muskrat push-ups during the winter when other food is scarce for them. In their introduced range in the former Soviet Union, the muskrat's greatest predator is the golden jackal . They can be completely eradicated in shallow water bodies. During the winter of 1948–49 in the Amu Darya (river in central Asia), muskrats constituted 12.3% of jackal feces contents, and 71% of muskrat houses were destroyed by jackals, 16% of which froze and became unsuitable for muskrat occupation. Jackals also harm
1085-499: The water from cut pieces of vegetation supported by a branch structure. They help maintain open areas in marshes, which helps to provide habitat for aquatic birds . Muskrats are most active at night or near dawn and dusk. They feed on cattails and other aquatic vegetation. They do not store food for the winter, but sometimes eat the insides of their push-ups. While they may appear to steal food beavers have stored, more seemingly cooperative partnerships with beavers exist, as featured in
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1120-465: The wetlands. Muskrats also benefit from human persecution of some of their predators. The muskrat is classed as a "prohibited new organism" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 , preventing it from being imported into the country. The trematode Metorchis conjunctus can also infect muskrats. According to an article in Hakai Magazine , from April 2024,
1155-596: Was caused by fuel starvation and the aircraft was written off. Maintenance of the CT-134 fleet was primarily carried out by the CFB Portage la Prairie Base Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Organization, with Depot Level Inspection and Repair (DLIR) being conducted by Field Aviation at Calgary International Airport in Calgary , Alberta . Upon retirement, the CT-134s and CT-134As were not sold for flying use due to
1190-590: Was completed by student pilots on the DHC-1 before they progressed to the then-brand-new Canadair CT-114 Tutor jet trainer. A decision was made by RCAF HQ to remove the DHC-1s from service and not replace them, as it was felt that the CT-114 was easy enough to fly that initial training was not needed. The CT-114 quickly developed a failure rate of near 95% amongst student jet pilots and it was clear that an elementary trainer
1225-482: Was needed. Due to the RCAF's previous customer relationship with Beechcraft while operating that company's Expeditor twin-engine aircraft, a hasty purchase of twenty-four B23 Musketeers was made in 1971. The first CT-134 arrived at CFB Portage la Prairie on March 23, 1971. The new trainers were designated CT-134 Musketeer in the then Canadian Armed Forces . The aircraft purchased were standard Model B23s equipped with
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