88 FUR FACTS 



The habits of the male and female are quite different. The female 

 confines itself to a given locality, the limit of which does not extend 

 more than a mile from a common center, and within this area she 

 has from two to three places of frequent habit, and it is of much 

 importance to the trapper to locate them, for the male mink visits 

 them from two to three times a week. (Note Such places, when 

 found, should not be in any way disturbed, for they are a common 

 attraction to all male mink.) Any suitable place in this territory 

 is the best place to set your traps. 



Female mink are found from half a mile to a mile apart, up and 

 down the main stream, or not far up some branch of it. The line of 

 travel of the male is from three to four miles up or down stream, 

 including its branches, with their adjacent territory, and the whole 

 line of this territory is visited from two to three times a week by the 

 male mink. 



The female mink is really local, her travel being about a mile up 

 and down the main stream, and also its nearby tributaries. She has 

 certain places where she frequents, hunts for food, and bathes, leaving 

 her signs. She has from two to three places where she burrows up 

 for the day. The places range from a quarter to a half-mile distant 

 from a common center. Caution ! When you find these places never 

 disturb them, for sure as you do she will leave. The male has a line 

 two miles up and down from a given point, which makes a distance 

 of about four miles' travel. You can trap around and near by her 

 domicile any suitable place near by is advisable. 



Never set your trap in a hole you suspect as being a den or living 

 place for the mink, for they will surely leave that point. You should 

 find a stump, or tree-root, shelving bank or drift near by, and leaving 

 as few signs as possible, set your trap. The mink, like all other ani- 

 mals, wants to capture his prey, or find it hidden as though some 

 other animal had placed it there, so you should dig back carefully 

 and hide your bait in such a way that the mink will be forced to go 

 over your traps to get it. The bait should be made secure by means 

 of a stick stuck through the bait, and stuck firmly in the back part 

 of the pen made for the purpose. Then set and place your trap in 

 front of it, pushing the end of the spring just under your bait. See 

 that no sticks or brush will interfere with your trap, then get some old 

 leaves and cover lightly. Don't use the staple for fastening, but 

 get some pieces of light, soft wire, say about twenty-four to thirty 

 inches long and attach them to the chain. You can fasten to any- 



