Lost My Swimmin' Hole

The muskrat is foraging for food in the dry creek bed, as we've not had much rain for 3-4 weeks and the shallow creek where it lives has ceased to flow. The entrance to it's den in the creek bank was underwater, but is now fully exposed.

The tail is vertically flattened to serve as a rudder and aid in swimming, and the muskrat's rear feet are partially webbed for swimming.  This is a semiaquatic animal (rodent of the vole family) which for the time being has lost it's swimmin' hole.

There are three ponds in proximity to the creek so there is water, but the creek has the grasses which I often see it carrying home to eat.