Fur
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 1993:
Preliminary data indicates U.S.
trapping license sales fell to 147,000 dur-
ing the winter of 1992-1993, down from
191,000 in 1991-1992; 230,000 in 1990-
1991; and 338,000 in 1987-1988, when
U.S. trappers sold 19 million pelts. This
past winter they sold just 2.5 million.
Trapping was a $10 million a
year industry in Louisiana during the
early 1980s, but is now earning only $1
million a year. Trying to revive the boom,
state Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries biologist Greg Linscombe
recently told Newsweek that damage to
bayous caused by Hurricane Andrew was
actually the fault of allegedly overpopu-
lating nutria. Nutria are muskrat-like
South American aquatic mammals
brought to Louisiana by fur farmers about
70 years ago––and are a favorite food of
alligators. The Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries, removes 75,000
alligator eggs a year from the bayous to
stock alligator farms.
The USA Weekend Kidscall
poll for March 5-7 found that of 5,000
children who responded, 68% oppose
wearing fur.
The Camp Fire Club of
America is hiring 40 game wardens to
fight fur poachers in eastern Russia, who
have reduced the wild Siberian tiger pop-
ulation to circa 300. The Russian fine for
poaching is only $10.
The Wisconsin Department of
Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer
Protection has formed the Wisconsin
Mink and Fur Council, Inc., to try to
revive fur ranching and trapping, at least
partially at public expense.
