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, thére 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. j 
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- 
