Hunting, Trapping and Using Animal Fur Affords Some Environmental Benefits

There is no denying the fact that there is a huge
and motivated movement to end the sale and trade
of all fur products. Wherever one happens to
stand regarding the issue of fur, there are some
very important points to consider. Fashion
notwithstanding, humans have been using animal
fur for warmth and comfort for as long as we
have been roaming the planet. In all likelihood,
it was not unusual to see our ancestors wearing a
fur coat or hat, or using a fur blanket or throw,
especially in the colder regions of the world.

While the methods for hunting and trapping for
fur has not historically been the most humane,
practices have changed measurably due to
increasing regulation and monitoring both by
governments and environmental rights groups.

Because mankind has been slow to understand the
importance of an ecological balance in nature,
humans have interfered with the natural
environment in innumerable ways. This has led to
whole species of animals that are now
over-populating ecosystems to extents that are
non-sustainable. This is one reason why
governments encourage hunting and trapping and
issue specialized licenses to cull some species
to numbers that are more environmentally
healthy. These licenses are carefully meted out,
often with the stipulation that as much of the
animal be used as possible. Hunters are often
not permitted to dress out their kills and leave
unused pelts behind.

While many environmentalists are so anti-fur use
that they cast a blind eye to some of the
positive effects of hunting and trapping, it is
important to remember that hunters and trappers
are environmentalists in their own right. They
have a vested interest in keeping the natural
wild lands as pristine and eco-balanced as
possible. Not only are national parks and
forests beautiful and something best preserved
in their natural state for future generations,
but their very livelihoods depend on it.

In some ways, furriers and their suppliers help
to ensure a balance in animal populations As
long as the majority of mankind is carnivorous,
hunting for food is not going to stop, so it's
beneficial that the pelts that are taken this
way be made into items that are regularly
featured in homes and hunting and fishing
lodges. A pelt that has been refashioned into a
fur bedspread or fur throw will help stave off
the cold of winter for someone in need.

It has been well documented that overpopulations
of some species can harm natural environments. As
an example, the over-population of herbivores in
Yellowstone, due to the decimation of wolves,
their natural predator, caused whole forests to
disappear within the park. Now that wolf packs
are on the rise, forests have re-appeared in
areas that had been grazed into barely edible
grasslands, and streams and rivers are healthier
and cleaner as well. Nevertheless,
re-introduction of natural predators will not
necessarily create an eco-balance by itself.

In mans efforts to control the environment,
introduction of non-native species into some
areas has caused other ecological disasters.
There are areas of the world where non-native
animals are thriving and beyond. Lacking their
own natural predators, their numbers can rise
out of control where they are competing for
food, natural protection from the elements, etc.
These are problems that man created, and now must
find a way to solve, sometimes by inviting
hunters to step in and help.

No matter what your beliefs are regarding fur
use, it is important to recognize that the only
way to keep our forests and natural parks
thriving for future generations is to keep the
eco-systems balanced. Hunters, trappers and
furriers all play an important role in this
endeavor.

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Author Stephen Daniels highly recommends
http://www.trailsidetraditions.com/ to anyone
seeking high quality real fur blankets,
bedspreads, lodge accessories, hats, rugs and
more. The owner of Trailside Traditions has been
in this business for more than 20 years, and
takes pride in the quality of the fur pelts he
uses and gets from his eco-responsible suppliers
to create beautiful genuine fur products for his
customers.

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