An inexpensive fence to begin with may be made by setting posts in the ground close together, but strongly. I recommend a fence made of wire netting or steel set or inbedded in the ground from one to two feet. First, dig a trench about one foot wide and two feet deep, and put heavy rock in the bottom and thus, with the rock below the wire there will be no way that the skunks can escape by digging.
The posts should be set ten feet apart. If set farther the wire will have a tendency to sag. The wire should be of one and a half inch mesh for the main fence, and one inch mesh for the breeding yards, as young skunks sometimes escape through a one and a half inch mesh. No. 16, or 18, gauge wire from four to eight feet in height should be used. Any smaller gauge than the above mentioned is not durable enough.
A wire or board inhang of twelve inches, should be placed at the top rejecting in so the animals can’t climb out. This is attached by slats nailed along the tops of the posts and the wire nailed to them. Steel sheeting needs no inhang, because it is so that the skunks cannot get a foothold.
If the skunks dig at night to get out fill up the holes as soon as possible and thus discourage the workers.
The big pen or large enclosure, serves as a range for the barren females, males, and young skunks during autumn.
4.—Pens.
Many breeders consider pens better and cheaper than dens. These are little runs about ten feet square, separated only by a three foot netting which has an inhang or overhang as it is some times called, of a foot on each side, so the skunks cannot climb in or out. If boards are used for pens inside the big fence no overhang is needed. All pens should be completely floored with mesh wire three or four inches under surface.
5.—Dens.
Every cage or pen needs a movable den that is dry, sanitary, portable, easy for observation, and warm. This last feature is important, for skunks are sensitive to cold which causes pneumonia. The dens should be well supplied with straw and rags, (avoid hay) because the seeds are injurious to the nostrils.