File:Bulletin (1941) (20434900851).jpg

Title: Bulletin
Identifier: bulletin2219411943illi (find matches)
Year: 1918 (1910s)
Authors: Illinois. Natural History Survey Division
Subjects: Natural history; Natural history
Publisher: Urbana, State of Illinois, Dept. of Registration and Education, Natural History Survey Division
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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September, 1943 Brown & Yeager: Survey of Fur Resource 485 ing with that for all other fur animals, with control based on more intensive hunting and trapping in season, offers the simplest plan of management, and one fair to hunters and trappers alike. An unprotected status of the species in the northern and central zones may be justi- fied in periods of a decidedly upward trend in red fox populations. The period for dog training should coincide with that recom- mended for coon dogs, Sept. 15 through Jan. 31, and for the same reason. Gray Fox The gray fox is essentially a timberland species, and in Illinois in the two seasons of the survey was found in greatest density in the River Bluffs and Bottoms Region, fig. 27. Here the calculated catch aver- aged 0.35 pelt per square mile in 1938-39 and 0.42 per square mile in 1939-40, table 14. The Northwest Hills ranked second in catch density, with an average of 0.29 and 0.20 pelt per square mile in 1938-39 and 1939-40, respectively. The North- western Sand Prairie and the Glacial Lakes, with trace yields averaging 0.03 and 0.01 pelt per square mile, respective- ly, were represented only in 1938-39. The survey indicated that the species appeared in the catch only in these four regions. In 1938-39, the calculated catch of gray foxes was 4,328, worth $7,574.00; in 1939-40, 4,889, worth $8,555.75, table 14. Gray foxes ranked eighth in the catch for these two seasons, table 20. The aver- age price for these years of $1.75 per pelt, table 5, may be considered lower than normal. Popularity.—The gray fox is gener- ally unpopular. It lacks the sporting qual- ities of the red fox, and in the public mind it is a serious predator on pcjultry and game. Fur-takers are indifferent because of the low pelt value. Of the total of 142 opinions expressed by trappers and hunt- ers, 92 favored more and 50 fewer ani- mals. Thus, the gray fox, along with the opossum and coyote, ranks very low in the estimation of Illinois fur-takers. Damage and Control.—^The remarks made under this heading for the red fox are generally applicable to the gray fox. Some persons regard the gray fox more destructive to game, particularly forest game, than the red fox. Populations.—The data at hand indi-
Text Appearing After Image:
Mf-^'SuL'n^'-ilt^ Fig. 27.—The gray fox is typically a forest-inhabiting species. The foothill and river bluff types of Union County offer excellent range for this fox.

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