FERRETS, MINK, SKUNK, RACCOON, ETC. 127 



Chances are good that if there is a skunk or 

 skunks within you will hear them. 



A ferret that has tackled a few skunks is apt 

 to become wise and not take hold, as they do not 

 like their perfume. Such a ferret will usually 

 enter a den but is not apt to tackle yet may go 

 near enough to cause the skunk to pat (thinking 

 that it will frighten the intruder). The ferret 

 may stay for a few minutes or come out excited 

 and bristled up. Some ferrets, however, have 

 been known to rout skunk from their nests with- 

 out causing them to pat or scent and then lie 

 down in the warm nest. Others come out but do 

 not show by their actions that there is game or 

 fur within. The "pat" method, however, is one 

 of the best for locating skunk yet the would-be 

 fur catcher by this method should not lose sight 

 of the fact that only a small per cent of dens 

 contain game of this kind. 



