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

s found in greater numbers than any other animal, notwithstandi

ds and lakes and sluggish rivers, but also thrive and are found in fair numbers on the smaller and more rapid streams. They are very plentiful in Western Canada and especially in the marshy country lying west of Hudson's B

y large and the number of muskrats found in that locality may be judged from the fact that the open season for these animals and the only time of year when they are trapped, is during the months of January, February and March.

s comparatively small and is dull sooty in color, found in the lower Mississippi Valley and along the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama; then there is the Dismal Swamp Mus

kinned and as a consequence are less valuable. What causes this difference in size is not known, but it is supposed to be d

pen Ground ne

more used in the United States and Canada. At present it is much used for lining ladies coats and its rich appearance when u

sistent hunting and trapping that the number of animals in many sections has decr

ast season. The general report was that the catch of Spring Rats in 1909 was perhaps not more than 2

mber and December, 1908, caused an unusual number of hunters and trappers to seek these

0 during March and April, this year they only secured 4000 or 5000. Trappers say that there are very few musk

skrats. The marsh owners farm out the "rat catching" privileges, usually on the halves. The State of Delaware protects the rats some eight or nine

breeding and replenishing the marshes. They get their food from the flags and other weeds largely, which flouri

, but as a rule it is lower. What causes this strange color phase is unknown. Black muskrats are met

oughout America. There are scores of ponds, small lakes, swamps, etc., in practically all states where the muskrat is found that

ill ever go as low as they were some years ago. Our conclusions in this are based on the fact that the catch is growing smaller and the popularity of furs for wearing a

ome a very popular dish in many of the Eastern cities and there is a market for the car

ver, that the muskrat living in houses and those living in burrows in the banks of streams are the same variety, their different, styles of habitation being due to the different conditions of their

d the interior chamber is sometimes quite large. Along the streams of the

h the animals, they are simply piles of grass and weeds in the water, for that is what they resemble. The entrances to these houses are always deep unde

House in

ouses, but only rise to the level of the water. These beds are the dining rooms of the muskrats, for to them they bring all of their food so that the

and roots, fruit, grain and clams or mussels. They are also fond of parsnips, carrots, artichokes, white

for muskrats and are contemplating the raising of these animals would do well to sow them with wild rice. The rice may be obtained from almost

can get out to hunt for food at almost all times, and where they are located on lakes and marshes that freeze over

is hole with grass roots, etc. The trapper is looking for just such places and it is the bunch of grass roots on the ice that

in a season. The first are born in April, and there will be from six to nine young. It is claimed that the female of the f

rats born in a season never reach maturity. With the exception of man, their greatest enemies are the birds of prey, such as owls, hawks, buzzards, etc., but c

pidly the first summer, it requires several years for them to attain full size, yet they class as No. 1 the first season. The old animals are larger a

hen fully prime the skin will be of a cream or pink color, with no dark spots showing. Winter caught skins wil

tters" on shares, which is generally one-half of the catch. The "ratters" only trap when the fur i

ctions have awakened to the fact that their "swampy land" is of

s and instead of their leaving they remain year after year, even though they are trapped and the property owners resort to other means endeavoring to get rid of them. Muskrats are not afraid of civilization, and do

the animals will take care of themselves unless the numbers are too large and they consume the entire food supply. The raisers sh

hey are fond of both the wild rice seed and roots, as well as the roots of flags and lilies, on which th

re. If the feed is not there the prospective raiser should see that it is started at once by sowing wild rice seed, transplanting some flags and lily roots to his

t. Perhaps the best way would be to place the fence several rods back from the water, as there would then be no danger of the animals burrowing under. The fence should be of five-foot wire, one foot in the ground. Where the fe