Vol. 4, No. 11 
Page 3 
5. Investigations of Furboaxers Ralph J. Ellis 
During past fur seasons raccoon bacula were collected from fur buyers through¬ 
out the state. The length, weight, and sex of raccoons examined each week at the 
Perardi Brothers Fur Company in the northern hunting zone were recorded. Organ 
samples were also taken. Essentially the same procedures are being followed during 
the current fur season. In addition, a sample of raccoons is being examined each 
week at the Ed Bauer 2. Son Fur Company in the southern hunting zone. This is being 
done in a manner which will permit comparisons of the sex ratios, age structures, 
reproductive rates, body weights and stress indicators of raccoons examined at the 
two fur companies. 
The samples collected during the present fur season have not been fully 
analyzed, but a comparison of weights has been made. The data are presented in 
table 2. 
Table 2. —Weight comparisons of 285 raccoons from the northern and southern 
hunting zones examined between November 15 and November 30, 1961. 
Juveniles 
Adults 
Females 
Males 
Females 
Males 
Northern Zone 
(Perardi Brothers 
Fur Company) 
11.6(58)* 
11.8(43) 
15.0(15) 
15.2(22) 
Southern Zone 
(Ed Bauer 8. Son 
Fur Company) 
7.1(55) 
7.3(55) 
15.5(18) 
16.3(19) 
First number indicates average weight in pounds. Number in parentheses 
indicates a sample size. 
According to the information in table 2, the sex and age ratios in the two 
zones are nearly equal. The average weights of adults from the two zones appear 
similar. However, juveniles from the southern zone apparently weigh only three-fifths 
as much as those from the northern zone. The significance of this difference in 
weights of juveniles in the two zones is not yet apparent. 
6. Waterfowl Inventory F. C. Bellrose 
In November, four waterfowl censuses were made in the Illinois River valley 
and three in the Mississippi River valley. Mallard populations have remained at 
an all-time low throughout November, the month almost all ducks migrate. At the 
