Why Choose Real Wild Fur?
First, I want to mention that the fur on our Fur Pom Hats is much different than the rabbit fur our Dog Treats are made of. Our Rabbit Hide Dog Treats are made of pelts from domestic rabbits that are used for their meat, either for human or pet food. The fur used in our Fur Pom Hats is from wild animals of various species. You will learn below how and why the animals are harvested, how the animals are used, and why real fur is a better option than fake.
Real Wild Fur is Ethical and Sustainable
How you may ask? The vast majority of the wild furs I collect are from road kills during the colder months when you have a bit of time before they spoil. These animals would otherwise go to waste on the side of the road, most of the time not even being touched by scavengers.
Animals that are not picked up from the side of the road are harvested by my family. We put a lot of effort into studying our local populations of wildlife and will take part in managing them if something is clearly out of balance or we have a need. There are not many people spending time in the woods targeting small predators anymore and that is evident in our wild populations.
When we harvest an animal we take great care in using every part of the animal possible. Furs, bones, and sometimes meat is taken, species dependent. The rest is used for garden compost.
We try to help out our local wildlife populations as much as we can because they are the easiest for us to observe.
Real Wild Fur is A Renewable Resource
It’s not often thought of as such by those not closely intertwined with nature and its inhabitants, but wild fur is a renewable resource. The species harvested for their fur in the Midwest are typically very prolific breeders and have large litters.
For example, over the last 70~ years coyotes have increased their habitat by 40%, even though they are heavily harvested with very few restricting laws. It’s often said that we cannot control the coyote population unless on a very local level with consistent effort. This overlaps with many other small predator and mammal species such as foxes, raccoons, and opossums.
No matter our efforts, nature will always prevail and provide.
Real Wild Fur is Biodegradable
Another notable fact about wild furs is that they are biodegradable. Eventually, they will be reabsorbed back into nature’s cycle, unlike faux furs made of plastic. The fur came from the wild and one day it will return to nourish others.
Conclusion
Our wild furs are not harmful to the environment and are more likely than not scavenged rather than harvested. I take great care in using absolutely everything I can from an animal when provided the chance. One saying we live by is, “Waste not, want not”.
