470 Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture, 1919. 



1 rapper invariably works from the opposite side of the 

 mound. No. 3 traps are used for coyotes and No. 4 traps 

 for timber wolves. 



Wolf skins should be cased hair side out. 



RACCOONS. 



Raccoons are found throughout the United States, mainly 

 in the vicinity of ponds and streams. They feed on a great 

 variety of things, including fruits, green corn, fish, frogs, 

 birds, small animals, and occasionally poultry. They sleep 

 during the day in holes in trees or cliffs or supported by 

 crotched branches of trees, and seek their food at night. 

 Their tracks, frequently seen on sandy shores, resemble in 

 outline the shape of the human hand. 



Raccoons are usually caught with No. 2 or No. 3 steel traps, 

 which may be set at the entrance to holes in banks, logs, 

 or decayed bases of trees, before a meat bait of some kind. 

 They may also be caught in traps set slightly under water, 

 close to the bank of a stream, by merely fastening to the 

 pan a small mirror or a piece of bright tin, which rarely fails 

 to excite their curiosity. In fastening traps it should be 

 remembered that these animals climb and may lift the chain 

 ring from a stake unless there is a nail or hook at the top 

 to prevent it. 



Raccoon skins should be open and shaped as nearly square 

 as possible. The fur is rather thin as compared with that 

 of many of the other fur bearers, and care should be taken 

 not to make it thinner by overstretching the skin. 



OPOSSUMS. 



Opossums are common in the Central, Southern, and East- 

 ern States, as far north as Long Island, N. Y. They travel 

 by night only, and feed on various kinds of fruits, small 

 animals, insects', and carrion. They climb readily and den 

 in hollow trees or logs and in crevices among rocks. Being 

 unsuspicious they are likely to be found anywhere in wood- 

 lands, and are easily caught in No. 1 or No. 2 steel traps 

 having meat baits behind or above them. 



Pelts of opossums should always be cased flesh side out, 

 the tail and feet being cut off. 



