The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-11-28
SKUNK
FARMS NEAR
Ohio CITY
Farm Paper Says Business
Can Be Conducted with
Good Success.

Wltnln tne Corporate limits OF q
small Ohio city are three skunk
farms. On each farm are maintained
an average Of eighty skunks. The
little patches OF ground occupied by
the skunks are called farms by cour-
tsy, says 3. 2. Snyder in Farm and
Home, but none Of them occupy more
than a half acre.
The farms are surrounded by q
close woven galvanized wire fence set
two feet in the ground to prevent the
animals from burowing out. on top
Of the fence Is laid at right angles a
strip Of eighteen inch chicken wire
to keep them from climbing over.
These three farms are on side hills.
Near the to poi the hills are built
diminutive little coops or houses for
.'dormitorles. In these are boxes Of
clean straw or other nesting material
and here the animals live most OF the
times. These homes are reached
through six inch tile laid two feet
underground, and the whole plant is
made to conform as nearly as possible
to the conditions that surround the
animals in their wild state.
Their feed consists mostly Of meat
:scraps from the butcher shops, eggs
that are candled out by shippers,
sweet corn in season and table scraps.
While they are carnivorous they relish
some Of the garden vegetables.
They hibernate a good part Of the
Winter, not coming out Of their densl
during severe weather. In the cold,
state they burrow but little and at the
approach Of cold weather go into the
dens OF the nharmots and appear to
live with them peaceably. There seems
to be. a sort Of affinity between the two
animals. -. 81 :
Stocking UP the Farm
These farms are stocked by catch
ing wild snakes and putting themh In
the Enclosure. It might be thought
that they would be a little Disagree
able to handle alive, but 1t has been.
found that II the tail can be kept in
line with the spinal column they
can't eject the fetid, acrid fluid, their
most effective means Of defense.
One hunter who makes specially
Of capturing live skunks has a dog
trained to bay them that is, he circles
around and around them at a respect
full distance, keeping them from run.
ming away and all the time barking
for help.
All the time the skunk has his
'"plume" high in the air. ready to eject;
the offensive fluid II his enemy gets
too close. The hunter watches MS
opportunity and when the skunk's at.
tention is entirely occupied by the dog,
he slips up behind, grabs him by the
tail and Jerks him into the air. With
his feet of the ground and his tail!
in line with his spinal column he;
can't throw his odor, 1t Is easy then
for the hunter to transfer him to the.
farm and introduce him to his COM
rades in captivity. p
become quite as tame as domestic
animals. They are fed once d day and
will come at the call or whistle OF.
their master like a herd Of little pigs:
crowding into the basket OF meat and
fighting among themselves for the
best scraps, /.
: Simple Process.
81 The process of removing the. scent
pouch is a simple one. They recover
readily from the operation and can
thereafter be handled with perfect
safety. 49,
Skunks breed once a year. The.
young are born in May, from five to-
eight in each litter BY the following
December orr January; they have at
tanned their growth. The fur Isl then
prime and thoyi are killed and the;
furs put on the market. When furs
were high in 1914 pelts brought $3.50
to $4.75 each. Ladies' skunk fur capes.
sell as high as s65. In England the
furs Of skunk are called skunk, but
in America milady calls It Alaska