ECONOMIC VALUE OF NORTH AMERICAN SKUNKS. 



19 



five to eight females. The mating season is in February or early 

 March. At this time it is best to keep the females and a single male 

 in one run together. If two males are in the same small run they 

 are likely to fight. The period of gestation is about nine weeks, the 

 young coming in May. Before the young are born the females should 

 be placed in separate breeding pens, which, as previously explained, 

 may be a small run containing a den or nest box provided with 

 nesting materials. 



The young at first are blind and almost naked, but they grow 

 rapidly and are weaned when about two months old. They should 

 then be placed in a run set aside for young skunks. They are mature 

 and have prime fur in December. 



About the end of this month breeding stock should be selected for 

 the next season. Only good-sized dark skunks should be kept, the 

 broad-striped and rusty-colored ones being killed for their fur or set 

 at liberty. As far as possible the males kept for breeding should be 

 black or "star" skunks. Careful 

 selection year by year will result 

 in a better grade of fur. According 

 to the experience of several, it is 

 possible in three or four generations 

 to secure a strain of skunks the 

 furs of which will all grade No. 1. 



REMOVAL OF SCENT SACS. 



Fig. 6.— Diagram showing scent sacs of skunks 

 Kept in pens Secure from the (dotted lines), a, Anus and sphincter muscle; m, 

 . . . pi i j lines of incision to expose sacs and ducts. 



intrusion ot dogs and strangers, 



skunks will not be a source of annoyance to the neighborhood. The 

 writer has visited a number of skunk ranches where no odor could be 

 detected except inside the yards, and it was scarcely perceptible 

 there. The animals soon become very tame and the keeper may 

 handle them with impunity. 



To transfer them from one run or pen to another, he lifts them by 

 the tail, grasping this appendage by the heavy part rather than near 

 the tip. However, as the animals are easily driven from place to 

 place, they may be transferred without being handled. While it is 

 not necessary to remove the scent sacs of skunks kept for fur, this is 

 preferable if they are to be kept as household pets or as rat destroyers. 

 Without the scent sacs they are far superior to cats as mousers. 



The operation of removing the glands is attended with considerable 

 danger to mature skunks, but it may safely be performed on the 

 young. The best time is when they are from four to five weeks old, 

 as they should not be disturbed in the nests earlier. To remove the 

 glands a short incision on each side through the skin and envelop- 

 ing muscle is necessary (fig. 6). This exposes the round hard gland 



