126 FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



to him or the skunk. I knew my ferret was a 

 large and powerful one so decided to put him in 

 the hole. I let him down at the mouth of the den 

 and in he went. I stood anxiously waiting for a 

 few minutes when suddenly I got a whiff of per- 

 fume and just then out came the skunk and fer- 

 ret. I picked up my gun but by this time the 

 ferret had the skunk by the neck and soon 

 choked it to death. 



"Well if I ever was proud of Old Billy I sure 

 was after he had killed that skunk. I have sent 

 him in other holes and he has chased them out. 

 I wouldn't sell him for $25.00— he is better than 

 steel traps." 



The most successful users of ferrets for 

 skunks locate the animals by their patting, 

 which is probably done to scare the intruder. 

 Experienced skunk hunters and trappers, and 

 especially skunk diggers, know that when a 

 skunk in den is closely approached by man or 

 dog they are apt to pat. This is done with their 

 front feet and can be heard for a rod or two. 

 Some ferrets will not fight a skunk but will 

 approach within about two feet and stop, when 

 the skunk is very apt to pat. When the ferret is 

 put in the den place your head as far down the 

 den as possible and listen, keeping quiet. 



