EARTH STOPPING, ARTIFICIAI. EARTHS, &c. 



keeper does his job at the right time. Reynard 

 returns and cannot scratch in, but Mr. Brock, 

 armed with his powerful claws, often succeeds 

 in tearing open the entrance, much to the sub- 

 sequent chagrin of the earth-stopper. Old male 

 badgers are much given to wandering, and others, 

 obhged to leave an overcrowded earth, are 

 forced to seek fresh quarters elsewhere. These 

 outHers draw out new earths, and the latter 

 may be easily overlooked, unless the keeper makes 

 a thorough search for them. 



The whereabouts of the earths to be stopped 

 depends upon the probable draw for the day, and 

 the area of ground likely to be covered. The 

 keepers receive notification, and it is then up to 

 them to make all secure. Under modern con- 

 ditions, it is not a bad plan to stop the main 

 earths permanently until February, after which 

 they should be re-opened in order to allow the 

 vixens to lie up. In February and March, 

 earths should ordy be lightly " put to" in the 

 morning, the main-earth being left open after the 

 early days of the former month. 



While there are in most countries a sufficiency 

 of natural earths in which the vixen can lay 

 down her cubs, it is sometimes thought necessary 

 to construct artificial retreats for the benefit of 

 foxes. Opinions differ considerably regarding 

 the utility of artificial earths, but it is safe to 

 say the less you interfere with nature in such 

 matters the better. It may be said that a well 

 built artificial earth is easy to keep clean, but 

 I have yet to hear of disease breaking out in a 

 natural earth, when the vulpine occupants are 

 wild and healthy. If an artificial earth has to 

 be constructed, the nearer it is in plan to a natural 

 one, the more likely are wild foxes to take to it, 



lOI 



