FUR FACTS 73 



netting into the ground or lay a piece of the wire netting flat on the 

 ground at the foot of the fence, inside, of course, or protect it in the 

 best way possible, depending upon conditions, so that the skunk 

 will not dig under the fence and escape. 



Compartments should be made to separate the males or females 

 and the young. If each family can be separated it is advisable to 

 do so. An old wooden box will answer for a nest if nothing better 

 can be obtained. Dig a trench and cover it over, fix a few dens 

 such as the animals would use in their wild state, and leave the 

 families to themselves and they will prosper and get along very 

 nicely. Build the dens in such a way that there will be no danger 

 of their getting damp; in other words, build them on an incline so 

 that they can easily drain. There will be no unusual scent or odor 

 about a skunk ranch, as skunk themselves are very clean. 



Food for Skunks 



Skunks eat a great variety of food, including meat, fish, insects, 

 scraps of bread, raw vegetables, cooked vegetables, fruits, and scraps 

 from the table. Only fresh meat should be fed. It is not advisable 

 to overfeed skunks as they become fat and the fur deteriorates, and as 

 the object of raising them is to develop the heaviest and most desir- 

 able coat of fur, the diet should be watched closely and only such 

 food should be given as is calculated to produce the best fur. Foods 

 that cause the animal to run to fat are not desirable. Some farmers 

 feed corn meal mush and cakes made from corn meal and sometimes 

 they feed fresh milk. Only feed enough food at a time to last them 

 one day and do not dump in a large supply of offal and expect skunks 

 to thrive on it and produce fine fur In raising skunks it must al- 

 ways be kept in mind that the object in view is to produce a fine pelt 

 and the best way to bring this result is to let the animal lead as nat- 

 ural an existence as possible. Supply them with food that will 

 keep them in good health, but not overfed. Females with young 

 should be fed twice a day and given plenty of good fresh drinking 

 water. The vessels used to furnish them with water should be 

 kept clean. Do not catch and handle the skunks at the time of 

 feeding and do not disturb them while they are eating, or as a matter 

 of fact at any time unnecessarily. 



Breeding 



Skunks in captivity breed once a year, but occassionally a second 

 litter is produced. One male should be kept for three to five females. 



