,,practical ,,skunk ,,rais+4 ,a ,,book ,,( ,,in=mation ,,conc]n+ ,,! ,,rais+ ,,( ,,skunks ,,= ,,pr(it4 ,by ,,william ,,edw9 ,,pratt4 ,publi%$ by ,william ,e4 ,pratt4 ,copyright #aiae1 ,by ,,william ,e4 ,,pratt4 ,,cont5ts4 ,*apt]-- #a4--;,introduction4 #b4--;,gr\nd4 #c4--,! ,f5ce4 #d4--,p5s4 #e4--;,d5s4 #f4--;,cage ,litt]4 #g4--;,food ,tr\ghs4 #h4--;,food ,h\se4 #i4--;,fe$+4 #aj4--,wat] ,tr\ghs4 #aa4--;,exam9+ ,box4 #ab4--;,diseases4 #ac4--,rats4 #ad4--;,dis9fectants4 #ae4--;,hospital4 #af4--;,bre$+ & ,w9t] ,managem5t4 #ag4--;,b>r5 ,females4 #ah4--;,bre$+ ,mo!rs4 #ai4--,"y4 #bj4--;,escapes4 #ba4--;,dis>m+4 #bb4--;,h[ to %ip skunks4 ,conclusion4 ,practical ,skunk ,rais+4 ,by ,william ,e4 ,pratt4 ,! supply ( wild fur has already fall5 beh9d ! dem& & ! "t is 9 sight :5 wild fur w =m b a small p] c5t ( t 9 use4 ,all furs trapp$ 9 /eel traps are less beautiful because ! animal suff]s4 ,x is a well-kn[n fact t ! less ! animal suff]s1 ! bett] ! fur4 ,! "t is n f> away :5 ne>ly all fur w be gr[n on fur-ran*es4 ,fur-f>m+ unque/ionably has a great future z an indu/ry4 ,)\t detail+ c\ntless failures2 x is well to beg9 by dispos+ ( ! wrong idea t mo/ p beg9 )1 t all !y ne$ to d is secure an isl& or a big f5c$ area1 & ?r[ 9 mu* fe$ to a bun* ( select$ fur-be>]s1 & reap a h>ve/ ( s _m pelts ea* ye>4 ,! absurdity ( ?is is se5 if we comp>e x to a horse-bre$] :o w\ld put a high f5ce ar\nd a l>ge pa/ure & turn 9 a c\ple /allions & a doz5 m>es2 ?r[ 9 mu* fe$ daily1 & expect a h>ve/ ( s _m colts1 ea* ye>4 ,no1--success dep5ds on g5]al sup]vision & control ( ea* individual4 ,skunks raise a bett] coat 9 captivity ?an :5 wild1 because _! food is gott5 )\t hunt+ = x1 & are beyond dang] ( man1 dogs1 & o!r intrud]s4 ,/rip$ skunks t5 ye>s ago sold = "o doll> p] pair1 :ile only two doll>s p] pair 0 paid = 8/> blacks04 ,?ree ye>s ago or m ^! prices _h d\bl$1 & a skunk ) 8 sc5t gl&s out 0 ev5 m valuable4 ,"o male & two females is a good lot to beg9 )1 :i* w\ld increase to tw5ty "y ! fir/ ye>1 & "o hundr$ & fifty ! second1 provid+ "o c\ld wait t long1 & "o c]ta9ly c\ld n expect any divid5d until ! fif? ye>4 #b4--,! ,gr\nd4 ,an acre ( gr\nd is suffici5t to beg9 )1 b "o mu/ h x situat$ s "o c\ld increase to p]haps t5 acres4 ,x %\ld be high1 dry & s&y1 ) "s grass 9 ! plot1 & n too remote f a railway /ation4 #c4--,! ,f5ce4 ,an inexp5sive f5ce to beg9 ) may be made by sett+ po/s 9 ! gr\nd close toge!r1 b /rongly4 ,i recomm5d a f5ce made ( wire nett+ or /eel set or inb$d$ 9 ! gr\nd f "o to two feet4 ,fir/1 dig a tr5* ab\t "o foot wide & two feet deep1 & put heavy rock 9 ! bottom & ?us1 ) ! rock bel[ ! wire !re w be no way t ! skunks c escape by digg+4 ,! po/s %\ld be set t5 feet ap>t4 ,if set f>!r ! wire w h a t5d5cy to sag4 ,! wire %\ld be ( "o & a half in* me% = ! ma9 f5ce1 & "o in* me% = ! bre$+ y>ds1 z "y skunks sometimes escape ?r\gh a "o & a half in* me%4 ,no4 #af1 or #ah1 gauge wire f f\r to eight feet 9 height %\ld be us$4 ,any small] gauge ?an ! above m5tion$ is n durable en\gh4 ,a wire or bo>d inhang ( twelve in*es1 %\ld be plac$ at ! top reject+ 9 s ! animals c't climb out4 ,?is is atta*$ by slats nail$ along ! tops ( ! po/s & ! wire nail$ to !m4 ,/eel %eet+ ne$s no inhang1 because x is s t ! skunks _c get a foo?old4 ,if ! skunks dig at night to get out fill up ! holes z soon z possible & ?us disc\rage ! work]s4 ,! big p5 or l>ge enclosure1 s]ves z a range = ! b>r5 females1 males1 & "y skunks dur+ autumn4 #d4--,p5s4 ,_m bre$]s consid] p5s bett] & *eap] ?an d5s4 ,^! are little runs ab\t t5 feet squ>e1 sep>at$ only by a ?ree foot nett+ :i* has an inhang or ov]hang z x is "s times call$1 ( a foot on ea* side1 s ! skunks _c climb 9 or out4 ,if bo>ds are us$ = p5s inside ! big f5ce no ov]hang is ne$$4 ,all p5s %\ld be completely floor$ ) me% wire ?ree or f\r in*es "u surface4 #e4--;,d5s4 ,e cage or p5 ne$s a movable d5 t is dry1 sanit>y1 portable1 easy = obs]vation1 & w>m4 ,?is la/ feature is important1 = skunks are s5sitive to cold :i* causes pneumonia4 ,! d5s %\ld be well suppli$ ) /raw & rags1 7avoid hay7 because ! se$s are injuri\s to ! no/rils4 #f4--;,cage ,litt]4 ,aft] try+ smoo? floor$ d5s1 & floors /rewn ) /raw1 *ips1 a%es & sawdu/2 ,i feel safe 9 recomm5d+ sawdu/1 z its great absorb5t p[] helps to keep clean d5s4 ,x %\ld cov] ! floor to a dep? ( two in*es4 #g4--;,food ,tr\ghs4 ,d n use wood5 tr\ghs2 !y are unsanit>y4 ,pie di%es ei!r t9 or w>e1 w d if ! sides d n fl>e4 ,if !y d ! skunk usually spills ! milk or any liquid 9 ! di%1 by /&+ on ! sides ) its paws4 #h4--;,food ,h\se4 ,! food & tool-h\se %\ld be 9 ! p5 = conv5i5ce4 ,!re %\ld be mice & rat-pro( vessels to keep ! oatmeal & dry biscuit1 *eese1 & meat 94 ,x %\ld be equipp$ ) a l>ge boil] = boil+ oatmeal & meat 94 ,! meat may also be smok$ z ?is w pres]ve x1 & is greatly pref]r$ by ! animals4 ,! meat may be hung out ( rea* ( ! rats 9 sacks4 #i4--;,fe$+4 ,skunks l mo/ animals are omnivor\s4 ,a cont9u\s unbrok5 diet ( meat w\ld ev5tually wipe out ! /ock2 z w\ld a diet solely vegetable4 ,mod]ate v>i$ fe$+ is ess5tial4 ,adult skunks are f$ once a day1 !y !mselves pref] x aft] d>k4 ,/aple articles ( food are beef1 rabbit1 c[ liv]1 *ick5 giblets1 oatmeal1 & o!r porridge1 cook$ potatoes & milk2 any?+ a dog w eat ) fruit & insects add$4 ,be sure ! meat is cle> ( infection4 ,ano!r /aple article ( food is a bread made ( bran & %orts4 ,mix ) ?ree qu>ts ( s\r milk1 en\gh fl\r to make a /iff d\gh4 ,roll d\gh out until x is an in* ?ick & bake = an h\r l bread 9 a hot ov54 ,?is is mu* reli%$ by all fur-be>+ animals1 & is /ill m acceptable if flavor$ ) a few spoonfuls ( black molasses4 ,milk mu/ be giv5 sp>+ly unless x agrees ) ! /ock4 ,once a week is en\gh1 m ?an t is liable to induce sc\r+ & o!r disord]s4 ,half a dog biscuit1 & a few scraps ( meat are en\gh = a skunk's daily all[ance4 ,( c\rse "s %\ld h m ?an o!rs accord+ to _! ne$s4 ,a brood-"m gr[+ or suckl+ h] "y %\ld h z mu* z %e c eat twice a day1 morn+ & ev5+4 ,:5 w9t] comes1 skunks retire to _! d5s & eat no?+ = weeks4 ,9 ,m>* ! fe$+ is resum$ & 9 ,april ! brood mo!rs are extra f$ ) a prepond]ance ( meat1 mu* ( x raw4 ,x co/s f tw5ty-five c5ts to a doll> to fe$ a skunk f ,june fir/ to ,decemb] fir/4 ,meat & fre% wat] are necess>y at all times = brood-mo!rs1 = if ?is is neglect$ !y w dev\r ! "y z soon z born4 #aj4--,wat] ,tr\ghs4 ,skunks dr9k mu*1 & (t54 ,!y mu/ h pl5ty ( fre% wat] at all times2 especially :5 ! "y are expect$4 ,! vessel t ! wat] at all times is kept 9 %\ld be wa%$ e day4 ,9 w9t] ! skunks lap up sn[ in/ead ( wat]4 #aa4--;,exam9+ ,box4 ,no cauti\s man w\ld und]take to exam9e a wild skunk z he w\ld a dog or rabbit4 ,yet x is important to "k sex & condition ( ea* new skunk z x arrives4 ,?is may be easily & quickly done by means ( an exam9+ box4 ,?is is a small box #aj by #h by #f cov]$ ) a *ick5 wire ( ab\t "o in* me% on ! top4 ,!re %\ld be a six in* entrance at "o end ( ! box4 ,on ! solid wood bottom is a h&le :i* is ( c\rse ! top1 :5 ! box is turn$ wire side d[n4 ,*ase ! skunk 9 ! entrance sl[ly & !n lift ! box up by ! h&le & look "u )\t fe>4 ,z soon z ! op]ation is ov] ! skunk w seek 8 prop] d54 #ab4--;,diseases4 ,! keep] %\ld wat* ! animal's dung1 if too fluid or too s(t1 too copi\s or too little1 !re is some?+ wrong4 ,_! appetite1 & ! dung are ! great te/s4 ,if ^! are "r !re is little *ance ( any?+ be+ wrong4 ,gre$--,"s cases (t5 ab\nd among skunks su* z ov]-eat+2 by gett+ all !y c f ! o!r skunks1 aft] eat+ _! own food4 ,su* freaks %\ld be isolat$ & m>ket$ z soon z possible4 ,cannibalism--,sometimes :5 enclosures are small ! mo!rs dev\r ! "y z soon z born4 ,?is is sometimes ! result ( qu>rel+4 ,always build ! enclosures l>ge en\gh s ! skunks h pl5ty ( room4 ,murd]--,murd] mu/ be consid]$ a disease4 ,"s individuals are incapable ( x :ile o!rs are v prone to x4 ,! la/ m5tion$ soon make !mselves kn[n4 ,!y %\ld be m>ket$ z soon z possible4 ,di/emp]--,?is may be detect$ by ! animal's eyes & nose runn+4 ,! animal %\ld be s5t at once to ! hospital1 & treat$ by wa%+ ! nose & eyes ) a solution ( boric acid & wat]4 ,mange--,mange is consid]$ a s]i\s disease1 & is caus$ by fleas :i* induce ! animal to scrat*4 ,! fur gets ?9 & ! body is cov]$ ) scabs4 ,?is may be cur$ by apply+ a good flea p[d] & a dip4 ,worms--,worms may be elim9at$ by fe$+ ! skunks 9 a di% ( cle>1 %>p1 s&4 ,o!r ,foes--,:ile ! arm$ skunk travels ab\t )\t fe> ( man or bea/1 x mu/ be rememb]$ t ! dis>m$ "y skunks may be kill$ by dogs1 or tak5 by horn$ owls or any o!r l>ge bird4 #ac4--,rats4 ,rats are a great nuisance ab\t a fur ran*4 ,!y (t5 dig holes & tea* ! "y skunks ! way to escape4 ,!y also kill ! "y1 & are quick en\gh to keep out ( ! way ( ! "m4 #ad4--;,dis9fectants4 ,^? ,i use are--,*loride ( lime1 p]oxide ( hydrog51 & lysol1 #b4 ,to dis9fect a d51 put x 9 a l>ge tub & soak x 9 8%eep dip04 ,to dis9fect a corn]1 spr9kle ) *loride ( lime4 #ae4--;,hospital4 ,! hospital is a s]ies ( cages1 q remov$ f ! o!r1 ) ! e>? & grass = a floor1 & good opportunities = a 8sun ba?04 ,sick animals %\ld be put 9 ! hospital z soon z not$4 #af4--;,bre$+ & ,w9t] ,managem5t4 ,! /ock %\ld be mat$ ab\t ,novemb] or ,decemb]4 ,put "o male to f\r or five females4 ,x is well to wat* !m = a few days to make sure ! gr\p is h>moni\s4 ,(t5 x happ5s t "o female w qu>rel ) ! o!rs4 ,%e %\ld be remov$ & tri$ some:]e else4 ,if "o is se5 outside ! d5 con/antly1 ?is is ! cause4 ,put pl5ty ( /raw 9 ! d5 & !y w make !mselves com=table en\gh4 ,dur+ ! w9t] !y eat no?+4 ,"s bre$]s deem x wise to fe$ a light meal a week4 ,mat+ "t is f ! middle ( ,m>*1 />t+ ) ,febru>y4 ,males mu/ n meet at ?is "t = !y w fight1 until "o or ! o!r is kill$4 #ag4--;,b>r5 ,females4 ,?ree or f\r days aft] mat+ season has set 91 remove ! male & try "s o!r male 91 or = a few days4 ,z ! males are decid$ 9 _! likes & dislikes4 ,neglect ( ?is precaution w result 9 a l>ge proportion ( b>r5 females4 #ah4--;,bre$+ ,mo!rs4 ,by ,april fir/ e female %\ld be giv5 a sep>ate d51 & well f$ & c>$ =4 ,?is is ! mo/ important "t ( all1 success or failure dep5ds on ! managem5t ( ! "m at ?is "t4 ,t[>d ! end ( ! mon? %e %\ld be giv5 raw meat & pl5ty ( wat]4 ,?is diet %\ld be giv5 until mid-,may1 z ?is allays ! meat crav+ :i* causes ! "m to dev\r ! new-born "y4 ,i w repeat aga9 ! wat*words ( success-- ,prop] sanitation1 seclusion1 & quiet1 an abundance ( raw meat & fre% wat]4 ,! p]iod ( ge/ation is n9e weeks2 ! "y are born 9 mid-,may4 ,! "y females h f f\r to six "y ! fir/ litt] & ! old] females h f eight to sixte5 to "o litt]4 ,nev] put two females ) "y1 9 ! same h\se = !y w fight & /eal "o & ano!rs' "y4 ,"o family 9 "o h\se is a good old rule to obs]ve4 ,:5 "o mon? old !y are able to walk ar\nd & dr9k milk4 ,i w\ld advise dis>m+ & wean+ at ?is "t4 #ai4--,"y4 ,! "y gr[ v fa/ & soon become z tame z kitt5s1 "s %[ _! amaz+ temp] at ?is age1 f ! beg9n+4 ,at ?irty days !y walk alone & dr9k milk4 ,at sixty days !y w weigh on ! av]age ( six lbs4 ea*1 & appe> to be half gr[n4 ,at six mon?s !y are full-gr[n1 & weigh f f\r to six lbs4 ,at ?is age !y are ready to be m>ket$4 #bj4--;,escapes4 ,x is well to be prep>$ = escapes4 ,a prop]ly con/ruct$ f5ce w prev5t ?is4 ,two contrivances %\ld be 9 /ock--net & traps4 ,net--,?is is an ord9>y dip net to put ov] !m4 ,traps--,^! are box traps1 or 8cat*-alives04 ,!y are easily con/ruct$1 & "o half doz5 w be f\nd conv5i5t = _m purposes4 #ba4--;,dis>m+4 ,to prev5t a %ot f ?is deadly batt]y ( ! skunk !y are dis>m$ :ile v "y4 ,:5 animals are "y ! op]ation is a simple "o2 b :5 p]=m$ :5 !y are gr[n n m ?an "o out ( ?ree survives ! op]ation4 ,:5 ready = dis>m+1 spread a burlap or gunnysack across y\r lap & ord] ! assi/ant to br+ ! skunk4 ,he mu/ be c>eful to hold x by ! tail1 ) x ne> ! gr\nd4 ,! sack is !n roll$ ar\nd ! animal2 re> expos$4 ,! assi/ant holds ! animal firmly & d\ble muffles ! eyes1 s x _c possibly see4 ,a skunk seldom %oots unless x sees an enemy4 ,! prop] in/rum5ts consi/ ( a scalpel1 clamp+ =ceps1 extract+ =ceps1 hook & goggles4 ,! sc5t sacks are locat$ "o on ea* side ( ! v5t (f "o f\r? in* f ! v5t4 ,to dis>m--,fir/ make an incision ?ree eigh?s ( an in* long & "o half an in* f ! v5t4 ,z soon z ! incision is made1 cut deep] until ! sc5t sac appe>s1 :i* is ab\t ! size ( a bean 9 "y skunks & ab\t ! size ( a m>ble 9 mature ones4 ,) ! blunt =ceps1 =ce ! adh]+ muscles d[n (f ! sac1 & cut ! sac (f "o f\r? in* f ! v5t4 ,if ! op]ation is done accord+ to in/ructions1 !re w be no loss :atev]4 ,animals d n require dis>m+ unless !y are go+ to be %ipp$4 ,if skunks are rais$ solely = fur1 x is j z well to leave !m arm$4 ,express companies refuse to %ip !m unless sc5t sacks are remov$4 #bb4--;,h[ to ,%ip ,skunk4 ,secure !m :5 ready = m>ket1 by us+ a box-trap4 ,nev] try to h&le !m4 ,to %ip !m1 put ea* 9 a small soap-box l9$ ) t94 ,cut a hole ?ree in*es squ>e 9 ! side & cov] x ) wire ( "o in* me%4 ,fa/5 a t9 9 "o corn] ( ! box ?ree in*es f ! bottom = wat]4 ,above ?is make a hole to p\r wat] ?r\gh4 ,m>k x 8wat] "h04 ,make a lid 9 ! box = conv5i5ce 9 fe$+4 ,"o p\nd ( dog biscuits1 or bread1 & a few scraps ( meat w amply supply a skunk on ! road4 ,label ! bag 8,sev5 days food04 ,d n fe> to lift ! lid & look 91 = a skunk mu/ be greatly al>m$ & provok$ be=e dis*>g+ musk4 ,conclusion4 ,if ! mat]ial 9 ?is book is ?or\ghly und]/ood & ma/]$1 & ! read] is ! pr\d possessor ( two 8/>-black0 skunks 9 a plot1 f5c$ secure aga9/ escape1 9 five ye>s he c reap l>ge divid5ds4 ,illu/ration3 ,decorative tree 9 pot4 ,transcrib]'s ,notes --,sil5tly correct$ a few palpable typos4 --,reta9$ ! orig9al 7expir$7 copyright notice f ! pr9t$ copy4