990 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Skunk-farming. 



There is no doubt that Skunk-farming can be made to 

 pay in spite of the fact that it has failed a great many times. 

 In nearly every case of failure the cause has been the same — the 

 improper bunching of a miscellaneous lot of Skunks in one 

 large enclosure. 



Condensing the experience of numerous observers, I 

 should say that the Skunk farmer needs, first, a large loose 

 pen, about an acre in extent, with a 6-foot fence. Second, a 

 number of well-floored pens, each about lo by 20 feet, for 

 the breeding Skunks; walls 2 feet high would be enough to 

 keep the Skunks in, but it is desirable to keep dogs, cats, and 

 owls out. Chicken-wire over the top of the pens does this 

 very well. It should be high enough to allow head room for 

 the keeper. 



Of course, the Skunk is a powerful digger; therefore the 

 walls of the unfloored pen should go 3 feet underground, and 

 at the bottom should have an underhang, either of stone or 

 galvanized mesh wire, extending 2 feet in and 2 feet out, to 

 prevent digging under from either side. 



A hollow log or other den should be in each breeding pen 

 and a number of them in the general pen; sometimes the 

 Skunks may be allowed to dig their dens in the loose pen; there 

 is, however, some danger of disaster by a cave-in, if the 

 ground has been disturbed recently. A good plan is to sink 

 a box, or stone-built vault, on some dry knoll. 



A bottomless wooden box is easier to make and manage, 

 but it rots in a year or two. 



The good plan for a small Skunkery — and no one should 

 begin with a large one — would be on the same lines as that 

 suggested for Mink, p. 898. 



The main runs are all the better if much larger, and 

 should have a varied surface; the more plants, grass, etc., the 

 more insects for the Skunks to hunt out and eat. 



