s u o v ie ! s l a m ARE MUSKRATS, BEAVERS & OTTERS HARMFUL TO PONDS? BY GAVIN FERRIS As an ecologist, I field questions on topics ranging from the lifespan of a tadpole to the best way to defend koi against the ravages of a great blue heron. Of all the animals I am asked about, however, three mammals probably produce the most concern and curiosity: the muskrat, the beaver and the otter. April 2019 CONDOMEDIA 25