FERRETS, MINK, SKUNK, RACCOON, ETC. 121 



unless during mating season when such probably 

 will not be the ease. While ferrets and mink do 

 not cross, or breed, yet being in the same family 

 (mtistclidae) may be congenial and not inclined 

 to fight. 



A party who has ^^ferreted'^ a good deal for 

 mink says : "They are used with fair success to 

 drive or run mink from holes. Use a large male 

 ferret and if there is a mink in the hole you will 

 hear them fighting. Keep back a rod or so and 

 the mink may run out, as they often do. Now 

 shoot or let the dog loose, if you have one. 

 During February and March, which is the mink 

 running season, if a male ferret goes in where 

 there is a female mink they will not fight and 

 the ferret is apt to stay. 



Nature of the skunk is much different than 

 that of the mink. So far but few skunk have 

 been driven from their dens by ferrets. Those 

 however who have had considerable den expe- 

 rience in handling ferrets, and are close observers 

 of their habits and peculiarities, can readily tell 

 when they have gone in a den occupied by a 

 skunk or skunks. The ferret will come out usu- 

 ally with fur and tail bristled up very much like 

 a cat when chased and treed by a dog. On the 

 other hand some ferrets will not go into a hole 

 where there is a skunk. If ferret or ferrets are 



