FUR FACTS 141 



and come out, and they can be caught by setting traps in their 

 runways, the same as for red fox. 



J. G. BURKS 

 Preparing Fox Skins For Market 



In preparing the fox skin for market the skin should be taken off 

 cased with the fur side out. Be sure to see that the fur is cleaned of 

 all burrs and mud or matted knots before packing it for shipment. 

 Remove all superfluous meat and fat from the pelt, but do not scrape 

 too closely as this would injure the roots of the hair. Comb the fur 

 out well with a coarse comb so that it will look its best. Dry the skin 

 in a cool shady place. Do not dry in the sun as the bright rays of the 

 sun will fade the color of the fur. Do not use chemicals or preserv- 

 atives of any kind, but allow the skin to dry in a natural manner. 



The mating season of the red fox is in the early part of 

 March, and there are from five to as many as nine in a litter. 

 The mating season of the grey fox is a little later, and its young are 

 usually produced in May. The grey fox is not as carnivorous as the 

 red, and fruits, corn, and fish form a large part of its diet. The 

 young foxes are covered with a soft downy yellowish-grey fur. The 

 color of the hair does not begin to appear until they are five to six 

 weeks old. Foxes as a rule hunt their food at night, and in some 

 sections are most active just before daybreak when all animal life 

 is on the move and they have a better chance to secure the small 

 animals and birds that they depend on largely for their diet. Natural- 

 alists claim that the wild fox is monogamous, that is, the male has 

 only one consort in a season, and while the young are being reared 

 he dutifully forages for them. In captivity, however, one male 

 sometimes has been mated successfully with several females. The 

 young fox when born are small and weak. They grow rapidly, however 

 and when about six weeks old begin to play around, and occassionally 

 eat solid food. No doubt the raising of foxes of all kind for their 

 pelts will be gradually developed. 



