Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-11-09


Herald It is very doubtful If Cali
fornia has anything on fox ranching
when. In 40. the blast of her siren call
reeounded from coast to coast. and
men became gold mad In their frenzy
20 get rich quick"
The province of New Brunswick
claims the honor Of possessing the
largest ranch in the world. This
ranch 10 situated on the Little river.
Ii miles from the city Of Moncton. In
1913 the ColpItts brothers-who then
were farmers living In sparsely set
tied agricultural district-saw great
possibilities for fox .ranching. and
used to their advantage knowledge OF
the habits of wild animals acquired
In hunting and trapping In earlier
days.
Theirs was u modest venture OF
single pair Of foxes, while today they
are the proud pOssessors Of more than
1000 paps. apart from the old ones,
numbering coo, thus placing this ranch
AZ the largest single ranch IN the
world. 1t may be of interest to follow
che, evolution and workings OF this
ranch. Besides the main Colpitts
ranch, the Little river valley Is dotted
with smaller ranches, In all OF whlch
they have an interest. The largest OF
these smaller ranches is the Anglo
American. with about 800 foxes. All
the foxes in these ranches are of the
sllver black strain and nearly all Of
them from the original Colpitts pair.
Eoxes breed but once a year. reported
cases Of more frequent breeding being
mot well authenticated. Litters OF hve,
nix. and even seven pups are not un'
common, although the usual number
b four and five.
The modern fox ranch at a distance
resembles wartime ENHANCEMENT, be-
ing built entirely of heavy wire netting.
seven or eight feet high. with an over
hang to preveht the foxes from making
their escape into the open or from get
Eing from one pen to another. For
merly the ranches were inclosed by
q high board fence with wire inside
70 prevent the foxes from burrOwing
holes, and thus making their escape.
The Idea was to keep the foxes from
view because of their timid and suspi-
ciOus nature.
The best ranches, however. have
discarded the high board fence and
visitors are allowed not only to see
from the outside, but are taken
through the ranches and into the pens
right among the foxes. The Colpitts
ranch covers several acres, the great
Enclosure being divided into hundreds
of pens. each provided with n wooden
boz for shelter and breeding pen.
The fox likes the open and plays and
suns about, climbing the wire netting,
and otherwise dlsporting himself, ex-
<ept in hot or wet weather. when he
seeks. shelter. They do not mind the
cold, and with the temperature be-
dow zero will remain out In the open
without the slightest sign Of discom-
fort. AS matter of fact. they ap-
pear to enjoy the extreme cold.
tits only. in the mating and pupping
season that the fox Is kept In seclu-
sion and outsiders barred from the
ranches. Or. f. A. Randall OF Truro,
Nova Scotia, an old fox farmer, says:
~After foxes have mated and have
been separated the ranchman makes
daIIy visits to the females pen, opens
1t every day and shuts her in The house
every night. She Becomes accustomed
to these visits and shows very little
fear or nervousness. Pups are due
RM 81 to SO days after mating. When
the pups have arrived the female is
zept confined in the breeding pen for
three days, at the end OF which time
ahe becomes attached to It and does
not, want to carry her pups out.