The Jasper news., 1922-11-09

N. b., to the New York
Heralt. 1t is very doubtful il Cali
fornia has anything on fox ranchlng
when, in 40, the blast of her siren call
resOunded from coast to coast, and
men became gold mad in their frenzy
to get rich quick"
The province Of New Brunswick
claims the honor of possessing the
largest ranch in the world. This
ranch is situated on the Little river,
10 miles from the city of MOnctOn. In
1913 the COlpitts brothers-whO then
were farmers living in a sparsely set
tied agricultural district-saw great
possibilities for fox ranchlng. and
used to their advantage knowledge of
the habits of wild animals acquired
in hunting and trapping in earlier
days.
Theirs was modest venture of
single pair of foxes, while today they
are the proud pOssessors of more than
1000 pups, apart from the old ones.
numbering COO, thus placing this ranch
as the largest single ranch. in the
world. 1t may be of interest to follow
the evolution and workings of this
ranch. Besides the 'main Colpitts
ranch, the Little river valley is dotted
with smaller ranches, in all of which
they have an interest. The largest OF
these smaller ranches is the Anglo
American, with about 300 foxes. All
the foxes in these ranches are of the
silver black strain and nearly all of
them from the original Colpitts pair.
Foxes breed but once a year, reported
cases of more frequent breeding being
not well authenticated. Lltters of five,
six, and even seven pups are not un-
common, although the usual number
is four and five.
The modern fox ranch at a distance
resembles a wartime ENHANCEMENT, be-
ing built entirely of heavy wire netting.
seven or eight feet high, with an over
. hang to prevent the foxes from making
their escape into the open or from get
ting from one pen to another. For
merly the ranches were inclosed by
n high board fence with wire inside
TO 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
inclosure being divided into hundreds
of pens, each provided with wooden
box for shelter and a breeding pen.
The fox likes the open and plays and
runs about, climbing the wire netting,
andS otherwise disporting himself, ex-
cept In hot or wet weather, when he
seeks shelter. They do not mind the
cold, and with the temperature be-
low zero will remain out In the open
without the slightest sign of discOm-
fort. AS a matter of fact, they ap-
pear to enjoy the extreme cold.
1t is only in the mating and pupping
season that the fox is kept in seclu-
sion and outsiders barred from the
ranches. DIR. f. A. Randall of Truro,
Nova Scotia, an old fox farmer. says
after foxes have mated and have
been separated the ranchman makes
daily visits to the females pen, opens
It every day and shuts her in Tie house
every night. She becomes accustomed
TO these visits and shows very little
fear or nervousness. Pups are due
in 81 to 90 days after mating. When
the pups have arrived the female is
kept confined in the breeding pen for
three DAYS, at the end of which time
she becomes attached to 1t and does
not Want 10 curry her pups out.