THE SKUNK 



THOUGH an inexcusable intruder in the 

 chicken coop and where game birds are 

 raised, the skunk is decidedly useful from 

 the standpoint of the forester or of the farmer. 

 In the writer's opinion, sportsmen if they en- 

 counter him in the woods should cease to kill the 

 animal just because it is " only a skunk "; others 

 of the fraternity advance the " just because " 

 argument if they are questioned why they 

 " shoot " the nests of useful hornets. The skunk 

 may rob a few birds' nests during the summer, 

 but his main diet consists of larvse and berries, 

 and by destroying the former he is of inestimable 

 value to the forests and fields near his residence. 



I am thoroughly convinced that his introduc- 

 tion and absolute protection in localities where 

 moths, butterflies and the like, in their undevel- 

 oped stage, have become a menace, would greatly 

 help to solve the problem of rendering these pests 

 harmless. 



With every skunk we kill we interfere with the 

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