Fur Farming / A book of Information about Fur Bearing Animals, Enclosures, Habits, Care, etc.

the red, the gray and the Arctic foxes. Of these, the red species is divided into a number of varieties,

ferent species, the fact that the black, cross and silver are only found in the northern districts while the red variety is found well down into the south. There are, however, certain facts which go to prove that they are all of the same variety or if different that they interbreed, the mos

, where it gives place to the Arctic fox, also they are not found in the far western states nor on the Pacific coast, being replaced here by the gray. They are perhaps most abundant in the New England St

c and northern Ontario, but an odd specimen is occasionally met with in all parts of Canada. They appear also to be quite plentiful in the interior of Alaska and the Yukon

They are found throughout the Southern and South Central States-in the east being found

and Alaska. In the most northern parts of their range they are a bluish color in summer, changi

of the fine silver and black foxes will range from several hundred to a thousand dollars, and more if the skin is an exceptionally fine one. The Arctic fox comes next in value

x Skins-Silver,

of a cunning, wary and suspicious nature and it is owing to this fact alone that they have been enabled to live and thrive in the face of the persistent hunting and trapping. They are hardy animals and while they generally h

ing when all animal life is on the move. Then it is that the rabbits and other nocturnal animals are seeking their places of

, such as apples, wild grapes and nuts. However, they are more strictly carnivorous than the gray fox. They are fond of eggs and often rob

es, apples, etc., and in some sections they feed on green corn. All foxes will eat fish with a relish when they can get them and will refuse sca

s which are found quite plentifully in the far north, b

omewhat later than that of the red fox. The breeding dens of the fox are usually located on some gravelly hillside but in places where the country is broken and rocky. They use natural dens in the rocks. It is only during the breeding season and w

asional patch of woodland. The gray fox is most at home in the wooded districts but the red species, including the silver, cross and black prefer

were once numerous and the gray variety were unknown, the grays now predominate, having driven out the red variety. In other parts the

ving gone into the business too deeply in the start and being ignorant of the nature and habits of the animals when found in a wild state, have as a consequence, failed. Very few of those who have made a success of breeding the valuable silver foxes have gone into this business i

proved comparatively easy from the start. Such islands are not within the reach of the average fox farmer and other means must be resorted to. The breeding of silver foxes has, thus

d that the red, cross and silver foxes may be bred and raised successfully. Experiments should be conducted on a small scale, for otherwise failure would mean a great lo

ulture, will show the area most suitable for silver fox farming. The plainly lined portions show the most suitable country, and conditions in those parts are most excellent and the cross-hatched parts show the area where silver fox raising is possi

tates, showing the Canadian zone where conditions are excellent, a

space of four or five acres is ample for extensive operations. If the enclosure is too large the animals will be wild and unmanageable, and on the other hand if too small they will become nervous and restless and will not bree

become high enough to allow the animals to leap over. It is advisable to have a set of inside enclosures, and as it is necessary that the animals are not annoyed by visitors. It is a good plan to have the space between the inside and outside fences filled with trees and clumps of brush so as to obstruct the view. The inner enclosures are small and designed for single animals and pairs and should be about thirty or forty feet

rangement o

itable and they take kindly to these artificial dens. They are usually made four or five feet square and two or three feet high. If desired, s

for Female

c. Overfeeding is a common trouble and should be avoided. Of course they must have sufficient, but should not be allowed to become too fat, as this spoils them for breeding purposes; also feeding should be at regular intervals. The weight of a healthy fox is from six to nine pounds,

milk daily. A quarter of a pound of meat and a handful of scraps is a fair daily allowanc

t is absolutely necessary that the animals be healthy and the meat should be kept on ice. One breeder claims that if everything were

It has been found best to place the male with the female in December or January and leave them in company until the last of March when the males should be removed. The females sho

owing Stones to Preve

e born, as the mother fearing for the safety of her young, will move them about continuously until they are badly injured or die of exposure. The keeper also should not disturb the young but should keep away from them as much as possibl

owing Detail

d also be kept in mind and those animals showing the least aversion to man shoul

een raising foxes for som

fox got to the young and killed the three males. I now have three cross foxes, one black and four red. I expect to

y kind of a dead fowl, rats, mice, stale meats, muskrat, coon or any other carcass. I aim to give them all

sh water twice a day during the summer months and the water should not be given them in a shallow vesse

gnaw or dig out. A safe fox pen can be built by putting a stone wall or concrete two feet down, setting posts first, then build wall around posts. Don't use any

operly underdrained and to see that plenty of dry leaves are put in kennel. Straw will do if leaves cannot be gotten. A mound of earth would be an excellent thing in each apartment

uccessful Ma

breeding season, in using special care to prevent them from being frightened and in the keeper winning the confidence of the captive animals. A careful study of their