THE DOMESTICATED SILVER FOX. 



7 



Fox ranches are now established in most of the Canadian Provinces 

 and in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont. Massachusetts, New York, 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin. Michigan. Minnesota, Missouri, 

 Oregon. Washington, and Alaska. 



CLIMATE. 



Fur growth is intimately related to climate. A long cold season 

 and at least a moderate rainfall are important. Hot summers are 

 not detrimental if short and followed by a season of frosty weather 

 during which animals renew their coats. Dry winds tend to make 

 fur harsh, and excessive sunshine fades it. The fitness of a locality 

 for fox farming can be judged from the quality of fur produced by 

 native wild foxes. While the proportion of silvers to reds varies 

 greatly in different regions, this variation does not appear to depend 

 on climatic conditions, and need not be considered in locating a 

 Fox farm. 



The map of life zones shown in figure 2 indicates the regions 

 having an average temperature favorable to fur culture, the cooler 

 Canadian Zone being superior to the Transition Zone. Much of the 

 region west of the Great Plains is included within these life zones 

 on account of its high altitude, which makes it as cold as lower areas 

 much farther north. While parts of this region possess the requisite 

 degree of cold they are too dry and sunny for the production of 

 first-class fur. 



SITES. 



One of the most important considerations in the choice of a site 

 for a fox ranch is securit} r from unusual noises and occurrences. 

 The fox is naturally timid and nervous. It can be tamed to a 

 degree, but its excitable temperament can be completely overcome 

 only by a long process of careful breeding and selection. It is espe- 

 cially shy and irritable during the breeding season. 



Foxes like to be screened from observation, and by day in the wild 

 state are rarely found far from cover. During the heat of summer, 

 especially, they enjoy dense shade. Furthermore, sunshine injures 

 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 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 sur- 



