By Ned Dearborn, 

 Assistant Biologist, Bureau of Biological Survey. 



TURNING PESTS INTO PROFITS. 



VERY FARMER finds it necessary to kill certain 

 ' animal pests in order to keep them from injuring his 

 property or crops. This he sometimes does by means of 

 poison, but more often he employs traps. A knowledge of 

 the traits and habits of the animals and of proved methods 

 of capturing them is important if he is to combat them suc- 

 cessfully. Besides such out-and-out pests as rats, mice, and 

 pocket gophers, some other animals are occasionally harm- 

 ful, but having valuable skins and being classed as fur bear- 

 ers are given special consideration. 



The lively demand for all kinds of fur puts into the 

 pockets of American trappers millions of dollars a year, 

 which, until the harvest, has not cost them a single effort. 

 Moreover, several of the furry tenants of the farmer not 

 only are not pests, but are useful while alive. Foxes, for 

 example, destroy many rabbits and mice, both of which when 

 abundant are very destructive to fruit trees and crops. 

 Skunks are exceedingly beneficial, for they feed almost en- 

 tirely on mice, grasshoppers, crickets, white grubs, and 

 other farm pests. It is only in exceptional cases that either 

 foxes or skunks attack poultry ; it is far better to keep poul- 



Separate No. 823, from Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture, 1910. 



451 



171(i47°-20 1 g 



