8 



BULLETIN 301, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



North. Dakota, and extends southward along the mountains in New 

 York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and in all the States of the 

 Rocky Mountain region and westward. South of the forested regions 

 of the northern tier of States and western Oregon, however, the 

 Canadian Zone, although sufficiently cold, is too dry and sunny for 

 the production of first-class fur. In the Transition Zone, foxes hav- 

 ing a fair quality of fur may be raised, but the best are obtained only 

 in more northern latitudes. 



RANCH SITES. 



One of the most important conditions affecting the choice of site 

 for a fox ranch is security from unusual noises and occurrences. Not 

 that the animals must be kept where they can neither see nor hear the 



doings of civilization; 

 but these must not be 

 irregular or obtrusive, 

 and every precaution 

 should be taken to 

 prevent unusual dis- 

 turbances. The fox is 

 naturally timid and 

 nervous. It can be 

 tamed to a degree, but 

 its excitable temper- 

 ament can be com- 

 pletely overcome only 

 by a long process of 

 careful breeding and 

 selection. It is espe- 

 cially shy and irrita- 

 ble during the breed- 

 ing season. 



Foxes like to be 

 screened from obser- 

 vation, and by day 

 in the wild state are rarely found far from cover. During the heat 

 of summer, especially, they enjoy dense shade. Furthermore, sun- 

 shine is deleterious to the color and character of fur. It is advisable, 

 therefore, to locate a ranch among a growth of young trees thick enough 

 to shade about half of the ground. Deciduous trees are preferable to 

 evergreens, as they allow the sun to make the yards more comfortable 

 in winter and to clear the ground of snow earlier in spring. Old trees 

 are likely to be broken by storms, and in falling to demolish fences. 

 On a slope with a southern exposure the snow will be gone and the 

 ground warm when the cubs are ready to leave the dens. A clay 



Fig. 3. — Vertical cross section of a barrel den. 



