Alaska, and whole communities are 

 dependent for their livelihood on 

 the sale of mink pelts. Fur farm- 

 ing has been successful in areas 

 where fish are abundant. Alaska 

 consistently exports about 40,000 

 mink pelts annually. 



Marten — The marten is found in 

 forested areas from Southeastern 

 Alaska north to the limit of conif- 

 erous trees. One of the most beau- 





OTTER 



tiful and graceful of the forest 

 animals, it weighs from 5 to 6 

 pounds, and measures nearly 2 feet 

 in body length. Beneath outer fur 

 ranging from rich brown to light 

 red or gray, depending on environ- 

 ment, is a soft and thick underfur. 



Martens make their homes in 

 hollow logs, in holes, and among 

 rocks. One to eight young are born 

 in March or April in an annual lit- 

 ter. After a period of nurturing 

 and schooling, they are forced to 

 take up their separate lives at the 

 approach of winter. From then on, 

 they are among the most solitary of 

 animals, except for a brief mat- 

 ing season in July and August. 



These strictly nocturnal and elu- 

 sive animals are great travelers, 



and have been known to cover 25 

 miles in a single night. Their food 

 consists of squirrels, mice, hares, 

 small birds, birds' eggs, and berries 

 in season. They are easily trapped, 

 as they have no fear of traps and 

 are very inquisitive. They can be 

 attracted readily by a few feathers, 

 a bright object, or an enticing scent. 

 Fur farming has not been commer- 

 cially successful, although martens 

 have been reared in pens at the De- 

 partment of Agriculture Experi- 

 mental Fur Farm at Petersburg. 



Land otter — Semiaquatic and 

 rather solitary, the land otter is 

 plentiful in Southeastern Alaska 

 and on the Alaska Peninsula, and 

 less common northward to the 

 Brooks Range. 



Its coat is a rich, dark brown, and 

 makes one of the most durable and 

 valuable of furs. Southeastern 

 pelts are noted for their size, color, 

 and quality, with No. 1 skins bring- 

 ing from 10 to 50 dollars. In addi- 

 tion to having an economically 

 valuable coat, the otter is an enter- 

 taining animal. Its favorite sport 

 is sliding down a stream bank into 

 the water — belly-whoppers like 

 small boys on toboggans. If caught 



31 



