46 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
with an intimate knowledge of the characteristics and behavior of 
the fox in captivity. 
THE RANCHER. 
Many of the failures in fox ranching may be attributed directly 
to carelessness and negligence on the part of the rancher. Foxes 
will not do well under shiftless management, and a caretaker who 
has no interest in the welfare of his foxes need not expect success. 
The rancher should handle his breeding foxes in a manner to insure 
the highest percentage of increase and should be willing to sit up 
part of the night watching their actions. One who walks through the 
ranch without the keen perception to detect a sick fox is by no 
means the right type of caretaker, and one who sees the sick fox 
but does not care for it at once is even worse. A rancher who likes 
to be away from his foxes as much as possible has not the thrift and 
Fig. 40. — Foxes appreciate kindness and respond to good treatment on the part of the 
keeper. 
welfare of the ranch at heart, and a caretaker who is not disturbed 
over the loss of a pup should no longer have charge of a ranch. 
One who is not careful to avoid feeding moldy or spoiled feed of any 
kind is not a true rancher. He must not share the opinion of some 
men that foxes need little or no Avater, but must supply them with 
fresh, pure water every day. for foxes require water just as much 
as any other animal. If he allows them to drink old, stagnant water, 
he runs the risk of having them infested with all sorts of parasites. 
If a rancher fits foxes and goes into the show ring simply to be 
there among other ranchers and is not possessed of a strong desire 
to win the best prizes offered, he had better stay at home and save 
time and money. 
A good faithful rancher looks to every detail of his work and 
has his mind and heart with his foxes at all times. He leaves noth- 
ing undone to promote the thrift and welfare of each individual 
fox. He likes to talk with successful ranchers about foxes, and 
tries to learn about improved methods of handling and manage- 
