270 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



the most important checks on the increase of ground 

 squirrels, mice, and gophers is removed, and these 

 animals occasionally surprise the farmer by taking 

 his whole crop." 



Skunks and skunk-farming. A similar plea 

 may be made for skunks. These animals are 

 far more widespread, equally harmless and 

 quite as beneficial; and, like badgers, should 

 everywhere be protected in country districts 

 except in special cases. As for chicken-steal- 

 ing, there is none of his race so little to be 

 feared. The skunk is not as a rule a chicken- 

 thief ; he is too large to creep through the small 

 crevices that admit rats or minks, and he can't 

 climb well. It is only needful to have a fairly 

 well-fenced yard and tight coop to be quite safe 

 from him. 



I have many times been asked to advise as to 

 skunk-farming, and my advice has almost al- 

 ways been No. This was due to the fact first 

 that with wild skunks so numerous and easily 

 trapped, and consequently skunk-pelts so cheap 

 as is the case at present, little or no profit could 

 be hoped for. Yet if done intelligently and on 

 a large scale several hundreds of skunks sys- 



