20 



FARMERS ' BULLETIN 587. 



and the duel. Care should be taken not to cut the duct or other 

 organs. When exposed, a clamping forceps should be placed over 

 the duct close up to the gland (fig. 7). The gland is then cut out 

 and the duct severed just beyond the clamp. The gland with clamp 

 attached is then lifted out. No anesthetic need be used for this oper- 

 ation on a young skunk, but the older the animal the more difficult 

 it will be because of the larger glands. In mature animals the-sacs 

 are nearly three-fourths inch in diameter. 



During the operation the skunk is held between the knees of the 

 operator by means of a gunny sack wrapped about its body and feet. 

 Of course, an assistant is needed. The wounds should be brushed 

 with a weak solution of carbolic acid and need no other dressing. 



In his Mammals of the Adirondacks, Dr. C. Hart Merriam describes 

 a less severe operation. It consists of cutting so as to expose a 

 section of the duct leading from the gland and snipping out a short 

 pieee of it. In healing, the duct is permanently closed and the 



animal is powerless to 

 h a b use its musk. 



OBTAINING SKUNKS FOR 

 BREEDING. 



As skunks inhabit 

 most parts of the 

 United States, they 

 may usually be ob- 

 tained in the neighbor- 

 hood in which it is desired to breed them. The best method is to dig 

 the young out of dens in summer. In States providing a close 

 season for skunks this could not be done without a permit from the 

 authorities. If such permits are not granted, it would be necessary 

 to capture adult animals in the open season. The assistance of local 

 trappers might be helpful in obtaining stock. A box trap is best 

 for capturing skunks alive. It is made like an ordinary rabbit trap 

 and baited with a freshly killed mouse, a piece of meat, or a chicken 

 head. When a skunk is caught, it may be carried to the inclosure 

 before removal from the trap. 



Skunks for breeding may be bought from trappers, dealers in wild 

 animals, or other breeders. In some places express companies 

 refuse to accept live skunks for shipment. However, there is no 

 danger that the animals will use their scent if the box is dark inside 

 and not subjected to rough handling. 



HANDLING THE FUR. 



In order that the breeder may realize the best prices for his 

 product he must be acquainted with proper methods of handling and 



Fig. 7. — Section through scent glands, a, Anus; b, sphincter muscle; 

 c, position for clamps; d, muscle about scent sacs; s, scent sacs; 

 /, rectum; m, depth (shaded area) of incision to be made. Care 

 must be taken not to injure the sphincter nor to cut into the sac 

 or duct. Length of ducts exaggerated. 



