Always a. newstk-r 
     
    
   
   
    
     BY ROSEMARY CURLEY,  ‘  
     
    
   
   
    
     Red foxes have always been economically important on the Island, and 
     
     records of trade in fox skins date back as far as 1789. An early Island k5 
     
     missionary traveller, Walter Johnstone, noted that most furs were trapped by " 
     
     the Micmacs, but whites also took part in the little recorded fur trade. In 
     
     1861, a government sponsored publication detailed the value of the various fox 
     
     pelt colour phases; a red might fetch a dozen geese, but a black pelt was worth 
     
     a horse, sleigh, harness and whip! 
     
    
   
   
    
     Foxes became big news on the Island and abroad when Robert 0ulton and 
     
     Charles Dalton succeeded in breeding foxes in captivity in the 1890's. After 
     
     several years of experimentation when little was understood of fox genetics, 
     
     the early ranchers produced foxes which bred true to their colours. Dalton 
     
     bred a pure black fox to match the demands of the fashion world, and the fancy 
     
     for heavy silvering did not become popular until several years later. The 
     
     great fur farming era continued with its ups and downs until the late 1930's, 
     
     when poor prices and World War II spelled the end of the glory days. During 
     
     this interval, many Islanders rapidly became rich, while others just as quickly 
     
     went bankrupt if prices fell. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ranchers experimented with other animals, but foxes remained king of the 
     
     ranch. P.E.I. exported breeding stock to the U.S., the USSR, Scandanavia, most 
     
     European countries, and to our neighbouring provinces. There was a two-way 
     
     trade though, and foxes were also imported from Alaska, Wyoming and most 
     
     Canadian provinces, some to escape to the wild and interbreed with our native 
     
     wild fox. 
     
    
   
   
    
     By 1951 the fox was back in the news as an exploiter of free-ranging 
     
     chickens and other poultry. Appreciation for its past contributions to the 
     
     Island economy was replaced in people's minds by a desire to rid the red fox 
     
     from the province. An initial reward of $2.00 was offered for its snout and 
     
     ears, and the bounty stayed in effect until 1964. An average of 1901 foxes per 
     
     year were turned in for cash. “ 
     
    
   
   
    
     Back at the ranch . . . . ..well, back at the ranch, only a few dedicated 
     
     ranchers with a special love for foxes stayed in business in the bad times. 
     
     When fox fur again rose in status in the late '605, many Islanders renewed 
     
     their acquaintance with both ranched and wild foxes, essentially the same 
     
     beast. Trapping became a worthwhile venture, and the number of fox ranches 
     
     increased quickly from 15 in 1972 to 118 in 1980. Foxes are once again 
     
     bringing significant amounts of money into the province. 
     
    
   
   
    
     What does the red fox think of all this? The fox is regarded as an 
     
     intelligent animal and over the centuries, they have survived adversity in many 
     
     countries, always flourishing in close proximity to man. 0n P.E.I., the red 
     
     fox increased its numbers with the clearing of agricultural land, and has 
     
     counteracted increased trapping pressure by producing larger litters. At 
     
     present it has few detractors; its economic value is obvious and most of us 
     
     admit a high aesthetic value of our wild predator king. A final footnote: 
     
     since the invasion of the coyote to P.E.I., we can expect what has happened ‘ 
     
     elsewhere to occur here. i.e. As coyotes increase, red foxes will decrease. 
     
     Perhaps the red fox has only begun its battle for survival here, but it's a 
     
     born survivor and we can expect to see it well into the future. 
     
    
   
   
    
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