riffles of a stream. In making a water set, rover 

 the trap pan witli a piece of aluminum foil. 

 Efl'ective baits include fresh fish, sardines, chicken 

 heads, wing feathers, or fresh unshucked corn. 



OPOSSUM 



The opossum ranges over the eastern two- 

 thirds of the United States and has recently 

 become established in parts of the West. In 

 some sections the animal is hunted for its meat and 

 fur. When food is plentiful, the opossum may 

 limit its range to a few hundred yards; at other 

 times it travels widely. It is omnivorous, and is 

 and adept climber. 



KILLING HABITS 



In raiding henhouses the opossum usuall^y kills 

 one chicken at a time, often mauling its victim. 

 Eggs will be smashed and messy. Occasionally, 

 damage occurs in cornfields when the corn is in 

 tlie milk stage. 



CONTROL 



Opossums are readily taken with No. 1); or 

 No. 2 steel traps. Sets should be made in natural 

 or artificial openings or shelters, in hollow logs 

 and trees, or at entrances to poultry yards. For 

 bait, use meat, chicken entrails, fish, or moist 

 dogfood. 



SKUNK 



Skunks range over all of the United States and 

 southern Canada. They eat a wide variety of 

 foods, includ'og insect larvae, small mammals, 

 and eggs. Favored habitat includes semiwooded 

 areas, deserted buildings, and open country 

 near woods. The animals are inactive during 

 periods of extreme cold. Althougli tliey are 

 fairly important fur bearers and not generally 

 liarmful, their presence near dwellings may be 



objectionable because of odors or diggings in 

 lawns. At times they may also transmit rabies 

 to man and domestic animals. 



KILLING HABITS 



The skunk usually does not climb; its preda- 

 tion is mostly on ground-roosting birds. It 

 kills one bird at a time and mauls the victim 

 considerably. Occasionally a skunk destroys bee- 

 hives while in search of insects. 



CONTROL 



Skunks are easily trapped in No. 1 or No. 2 

 traps. Sets should be made along access routes 

 to the poultry pen and baited with chicken 

 heads, entrails, meat scraps, or a dead mouse. 

 To prevent the animals taking up residence under 

 dwellings, seal all entrance holes in the foundation. 

 If the skunk has already established itself under 

 the house, close all exit holes but one and sprinkle 

 flour at this entrance; when tracks indicate the 

 animal has left for the night, seal this entrance. 

 Another suggested procedure is liberal application 

 of flake naphthalene in the vicinity of the burrows. 

 The animals may be live-trapped in cage-type 

 traps covered with a burlap sack. 



WEASEL 



Members of the weasel family are found over 

 all the North American continent. They are 

 energetic, ceaseless hunters, and prefer a diet 

 of freshly killed prey. Although the weasel kills 

 many mice and other rodents and therefore is 

 cjuite beneficial, it does at times destroy poultry. 



KILLING HABITS 



The weasel bites through the skull, back of the 

 neck, or under the wing of poultry, and may eat 

 only the back of the head and neck. It some- 

 times kills many birds in one night and places 

 them neatly in a pile. 



CONTROL 



To trap weasels, set No. or No. 1 steel traps 

 in crannies, brush piles, log piles, or any small 

 covered area. Adjust the pan to "hair trigger" 

 and bait with meat scraps or fresh fish suspended 

 8 to 10 inches above the trap. 



