Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-07-15
The Skunk is the Farmers Friend.

The skunk is OF more value to the farnl-
er than he is apt TO be given credit. 1t
stands among the most important animals
that choose for their diet insects harmful
10 the farmer. II is the best-known enc
my OF army worms, including the CON-
mon army worm, the wheat-head army
worm, all OF which are destructive to
small grains, corn and grasses and cause
heavy losses every year to farmers, &C
cording to the United States Department
OF AgricuIture's biologist.
The skunk, which is represented
throughout the country by number OF
varieties, genera and species, is an ami
NAL OF great economic importance. Its
food consists very largely OF insects,
mainly OF those species which are very
destructive to garden and forage crops.
Field observation and laboratory exami-
nation demonstrate that they destroy i'm
mense numbers OF white grubS, grass
hoppers, crickets, cutworms, hornets,
wasps and other noxious forms. The
alarming increase OF the white grub in
some localities is largely due to the ex-
termination OF this valuable animal
Ii is matter OF common observation
where white grubs are particularly abun-
dant in cornflelds TO note little round holes
burrowed in the ground about hills OF
corn. These are made by skunkS in their
search during the night for these grubs.
During an outbreak OF graSShoppers in
Kansas if was determined that in many
cases large proportion OF the food OF
skunks consisted OF these graSshoppers.
Strawberry growers generally regard
this animal with favor, even though in IFS
eager search for The grubS it may uproot
the plant or eat a few berries. The skunk
also eats many mature "May beetles"
and June bugs, which hatch from the
white grubs.
Skunks also destroy the hop grub,
grasshoppers, cutworms, crickets, sphinx
moths, sweet potato beetles, Colorado
potato beetles, field mice and rats. The
animal is especially useful in destroying
the rats and mice that commonly infest
farm buildings. If a skunk takes up his
residence near premises where these rats
are abundant, If will remain there il not
disturbed until practically all the rodents
are destroyed.
Some OF the most destructive insects in
agriculture are such as do their work be-
low ground and out ofreach ofany method
that the farmer can apply, and ii is against
many of these that the skunk is an in
veterate enemy. Notwithstanding all OF
this, there is probably not an animal that
is ruthlessly slaughtered as is this one,
whereas if is entitled TO equal protection
with, if not more than, some OF our birds
which enjoy this privilege.
In some regions the bite OF the skunk
is supposed TO produce hydrophobia.
This fear is unfounded, since ii is proved
that the bite OF a healthy skunk is no more
serious than similar wounds caused by
other agencies.
Without doubt an individual skunk oc-
casionally learns to prey upon poultry and
may become source OF great annoyance
and loss. If the evidences OF its work
are unmistakable the animal should be
destroyed either by trapping or poisoning.
AS matter OF fact, minks and weaSleS
which have not nearly the bad name
possessed by their cousin, the skunk, are
far more bloodthirsty and are expert
climbers to roosts, while common skunk
will kill only birds found on the ground.
The farmer who loses fowls often mis-
takes the identity OF the animal killing
them, and when in doubt often attributes
the injury TO a skunk.
Skunks are also accused of destroying
beehives. 1t is true that skunkS suffer
little, if any, from the stiugs, OF bees, and
one is said TO be able to destroy practi-
caIy whole colony OF bees in a few
visits. However, the possibilities OF this
animal attacking an apiary may be entire
ly avoided by placing the hives upon a
high bench.
One reason for the great prejudice OF
Americans against this animal is that our
early settlers were acquainted with SINH
lar animal in Europe, the polecat. The
polecat of Europe is far more destructive
TO poultry and game than are skunks.
Nevertheless, its bad reputation was trans
ferred with the name, and circumstances
have been unfavorable for reversal OF
, opinion until very recently. Now, how
! ever, the high price which skunk skins
may bring in the market is causing the
thrifty farmer 10 think better OF the ami
NAL. He is also gradually realizing that
the skunk eats harmful pests.