'rat

Noun

 * 1) * 1949, Ted O'Neil, The Muskrat in the Louisiana Coastal Marshes: A Study of the Ecological, Geological, Biological, Tidal and Climatic Factors Governing the Production and Management of the Muskrat Industry in Louisiana, page 93 to 94:
 * The 1946-47 catch of 68,656 is approximately 23 &apos;rats per acre over the 3,000 acres of producing marches. The additional sea-rims and ridges were not trapped. To trap this number of &apos;rats per acre the marshes must carry at least 30 to 35 animals per acre . If ignited by lightning or other agencies during dry spells these will suffer damage to &apos;rat populations.
 * 1) * 1997, Shawn Thompson, Soul of the River: Life in the Thousand Islands, GeneralStore PublishingHouse (ISBN 9781896182551), page 44:
 * He useta trap otter, mink, mushkrats, and bear, wolves. You just love it. He taught us how to skin &apos;rats and stuff like that. I was 'bout ten.
 * 1) * 2017, Kenny Salwey, J. Scott Bestul, Last River Rat: Kenny Salwey's Life in the Wild, Fulcrum Publishing (ISBN 9781938486913):
 * Part of that muskrat courage is a defense mechanism that comes from being picked on, as muskrats are fodder for virtually every predator going: fox, eagle, hawk, mink—even a snapping turtle will take a young muskrat on occasion, tugging it underwater and drowning it as the female &apos;rat swims on, unsuspecting. Kenny finds a &apos;rat in each of the next three sets,
 * Part of that muskrat courage is a defense mechanism that comes from being picked on, as muskrats are fodder for virtually every predator going: fox, eagle, hawk, mink—even a snapping turtle will take a young muskrat on occasion, tugging it underwater and drowning it as the female &apos;rat swims on, unsuspecting. Kenny finds a &apos;rat in each of the next three sets,