Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1912 — MONEY IN BREEDING SKUNKS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MONEY IN BREEDING SKUNKS

Enterprise May Be Made Distinctly Profitable, According to the Biological Survey. Many attempts have been made to raise skunks for their fur, but the en-

terprises have usually been given up as unprofitable. According to the biological survey of the United States department of agriculture, the chief causes of

fallure have been cost of fencing enclosures, cost of maintenance, or lack of experience, leading to overcrowding and overfeeding the animals in many cases where the animals were successfully reared, it was found that the expense of feeding them to maturity exceeded the value of the fur, while in other instances the antipathy of neighbors led to the abandonment of the experiments. At, present the value of the best black skins would probably allow a margin of profit in rearing this class of skunks. The survey gives the following practical hints on skunk farming: In the matter of food, the chief aim should be to supply a suitable and sufficient diet at reasonable cost. A certain proportion of meat is necessary, but the animals eat also bread, green corn, clover, tomatoes, and many other vegetable substances. Butcher and table scraps given when fresh are the main reliance. The food should not be salted, and fresh water should be supplied regularly. Skunks are especially fond of insects, and if the pens are large enough and favorably placed, the animals Will forage for a part of their food.

At least - an acre of ground should be enclosed for each 50 skunks, and even then there is danger of cannibalism unless there are plenty of separate dens for the females. The fence should be made of poultry netting one and one-half-inch mesh. The posts should be set in ditches 18 inches or more in depth, which should be filled with broken concrete. Another plan Is to extend the wire netting underground. The fence should be three or four feet high and have an overhang at the top to keep the animals from climbing over. Skunks breed once a year, and produce from six to eight young. They are born in May or June, and mature by December. There is good money in skunk farming if it is done actontitle all”. The constructing of permanent highways is rapidly increasing in every state and territory. This is not only for pleasure car but also for the motor truck, which in a short time will play an important part in the handling of products, not only for the seller hut for the producer.