This Wild Animal Was Seen Once in Downtown Rochester and Vanished

Here in southeast Minnesota, we share our state with a variety of birds and wild animals, but we don't often see this animal that was once spotted in downtown Rochester. In fact, it was only seen one time, three years ago, and hasn't been seen since!

Rare Downtown Rochester Wildlife Sighting Still Stands Out

I have to confess that I'm an animal lover. I'm endlessly fascinated by not only the domesticated animals we keep as pets (and in case that'd be our three cats and two dogs) but by the various animals, birds, and other critters that also call the Land of 10,000 Lakes home.

So, I'm always on the lookout for interesting animals in their natural habitat. So that's why I was a little surprised back in April 2023, when I saw the following critter making its way along a busy street in downtown.

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From what I can tell, it was a muskrat. And while they're fairly common here in the North Star State, until that day, I hadn't ever seen one downtown here in Minnesota's third-largest city. And, I haven't seen one since then, either.

Muskrats Are Common in Minnesota—But Not in Downtown Rochester

Three years ago, I spotted this little guy (or girl?) scampering along the Discovery Walk on 2nd Avenue, which was then still under construction. He made his way over to several landscaping features that were being built, but at the time were filled with rainwater.

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Why Muskrats Usually Stay Near Minnesota Wetlands and Rivers

According to the Minnesota DNR, muskrats ARE fairly common across our state, though maybe not in our state's downtown areas:

The muskrat is found throughout of Minnesota. It lives in marshes, ponds, and streams that have many water plants. Several hundred muskrats can live in a single wetland. Although famous for its domed houses of mud and vegetation, it just as often lives in burrows.

Minnesota's muskrats are similar to their cousin, the beaver, the DNR said, but are smaller and weigh only between 3 and 5 pounds. And, they usually aren't spotted downtown. After I snapped these pics that day in 2023, he headed off in the direction of the Zumbro River, perhaps to head back to the water.

I can say that in the 12 years I've worked downtown in Minnesota's Med City, I've seen ducks, geese, crows, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks. But until that day, I'd never seen a muskrat before-- and I haven't seen one since then, either. Which wild animals have YOU seen in person? Keep scrolling to see some other wild animals who also call the Gopher State home.