Bald Beavers?

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:27 am

I read over in the Fedora Lounge that, to get beaver fur to make our felt hats, the little buggers are shaved every 4 months, not killed (as I thought they were). If this if true, it's indeed good news (especially for the beaver, I would think). Does anyone here know the actual process of getting the fur from the beaver to the hat?

Kaleponi Craig

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:30 am

Well, after putting the beavers in a centrefuge didn't work...

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:03 am

I've never heard that before... at least not on the beavers you'd shave to get fur from

How is that supposed to be done anyway? - Taking the critter in the neck and telling it to remain quite while you go ahead and shave its belly???

Regards,

Marc

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:17 am

Marc wrote: How is that supposed to be done anyway? - Taking the critter in the neck and telling it to remain quite while you go ahead and shave its belly???

Well, they have professional sheep shearers in New Zealand and other sheep growing areas. I would imagine, if true, that there are professional beaver shearers out there somewhere...KC

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:18 am

Do they wear little faux fur coats til they grow a new crop??

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:21 am

Shaved beavers... very dangerous... you go first.

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:16 pm

Shaved beavers... very dangerous... you go first.

Bwahahahahaha!!!! ROTFL!!!

Well, they have professional sheep shearers in New Zealand and other sheep growing areas. I would imagine, if true, that there are professional beaver shearers out there somewhere...

To be honest, the only way I can think of a beaver allowing one to shave it's belly, is by either hypnoticing or knocking it out. Either way, it sounds quite unbelievable to me.

Regards,

Marc

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:20 pm

binkmeisterRick wrote:Shaved beavers... very dangerous... you go first.

Oh no, here we go again!

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:53 pm

Shaved beavers... very dangerous... you go first.

Why do I see this thread going in the gutter real fast.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:57 pm

Who said I was going to the gutter? I mean, if you shave a beaver of its fur, YOU think it's gonna be happy to see you again?

raindog · Post by **raindog** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:59 pm

You can tell a proffesional beaver shaver....They're always called "3 fingers jackson" or "ole Leftie".....

They kill 'em I'm afraid. Although....I have heard a rumour that SOME beavers are grown from a very young age in captivity, and shaved with ease as they are so tame. Still don't believe it really....

Jeff.

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:04 pm

They have big teeth and though cute looking don't seem the type to let you clip 'em.

I'm sceptical.

Floribama Steve · Post by **Floribama Steve** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:37 pm

If a beaver were to be shaved alive, a sedative would solve the problem of nipping teeth fairly well I think.

raindog · Post by **raindog** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:49 pm

Sedative use is full of difficulties. Each beaver would have to be given it individually, by a vet. Each beaver would need the correct dose for body weight. After the treatment the beaver would need to be kept warm and probably in a seperate cage to other beavers.
Would they bother is the question? Easier to trap 'em and kill 'em. Harsh but likely, especially in the countries which provide most of the beaver for hats.
I'd like it to be the case that the beavers are cared for and sedated and shaved, but looking at the way people treat animals providing a product, it's most likely a nasty little end for the beaver.
I'm not judging the people who do it (or maybe I am). I'd still buy a beaver hat, same as I'd still eat meat, or wear leather. Would I buy a fur coat? For some reason I wouldn't. Perhaps it's the quantity of dead animals used to make an item of clothing that makes the difference. Some coats take dozens of animals to make one coat. How many beavers in a pure beaver felt? There's a question.......

Jeff.

gdkenoyer · Post by **gdkenoyer** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:03 pm

I beleive that Craig is referring to this string. It was started by a young lady who was taken aback at the thought of the beavers being killed for thier fur. It starts to get a bit personal but manages to recover. SHARPETOYS was just being flip (I think...) when he replied that the beavers just got haircuts every 3-4 months.

At some point the "shearing" is clarified to be "posthumous"...

Keeping in line with some of the above replies, one interesting comment is:

A beaver is a basically a big rat. No one is going to hold a rat between their legs and start shearing it.

yep -- that'll get your attention!

Cyan · Post by **Cyan** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:04 pm

I'm reserved to my thinking that killing animals for fur/meat that are predators is wrong. There are already so few of them to begin with. Thats why I'd wear a cow/goat/lamb jacket, but not a fox jacket.

gdkenoyer · Post by **gdkenoyer** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:10 pm

check out this Fedora Lounge string for the next iteration of the topic...

raindog · Post by **raindog** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:14 pm

Hmm interesting criteria. There are lots of predators that are predated upon in the world. What's the difference between a sheep and a fox except maybe numbers? Also in some areas beaver and fox are pests which are too many in number. If we kill them to thin numbers what's wrong with using the skins?
Just thinking aloud here. I find the idea of killing something for an item of clothing offputting, and dull my feelings to this so I can still wear desirable items made from animals. Another thought, my love of an item of animal product surely gives the death of an animal more meaning? More so than eating a burger or chicken nugget.

Jeff.

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:21 pm

Is it allowed to promote drinking here?

http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=320

http://gprime.net/video.php/wheresyourpetbeaver

gdkenoyer · Post by **gdkenoyer** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:25 pm

ha! that's great -- we'll let that one live, yes?

raindog · Post by **raindog** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:42 pm

Brilliant! That one on the bar looked friendly enough to shave!

Another problem just thought of. If these shaveable beavers were to have any quality of life they'd have to be kept in the same conditions as they live in. Imagine how cold the poor shaved beaver would be in the water? Sounds impossible to me.

Jeff.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:21 pm

Kt Templar wrote:Is it allowed to promote drinking here?

http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=320

http://gprime.net/video.php/wheresyourpetbeaver

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! All I need now is a pet beaver and a trunk monkey.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:27 pm

Well, you could always have Jeff shaved to make a hat. On second thought...

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:08 pm

Just his belly, mind you, then tag him and return him to the wild...

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:11 pm

Alright, alright, let's reel this one back in...

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:55 pm

raindog wrote: Another problem just thought of. If these shaveable beavers were to have any quality of life they'd have to be kept in the same conditions as they live in. Imagine how cold the poor shaved beaver would be in the water? Sounds impossible to me.

Well, if true, I imagine the little fellows live in a controled environment. I would hope they don't send them back into the wilds after a good shave...those mountain streams are really cold!!!

KC

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:56 pm

Indiana Jerry wrote:Just his belly, mind you, then tag him and return him to the wild...

I would think the belly fur would be of a higher value. Isn't kashmir the belly fur of a goat or something? And I think down is the belly feathers of a goose...KC

Altern · Post by **Altern** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:27 pm

I have never ever seen a beaver in my whole life. I don't even know if it's dangerous or if it can get naughty/vicious.

But it do make a difference when used in a Fedora for sure :p

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:40 pm

Altern wrote:I have never ever seen a beaver in my whole life. I don't even know if it's dangerous or if it can get naughty/vicious.

Well, let's put it this way...you would be ill advised to put a live beaver between your knees and try to shear him. They tend to get ornrey when this happens and they have two VERY big, sharp teeth. These teeth can cut down a good size tree, so just imagine what they could do to you..KC

Shawnkara · Post by **Shawnkara** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:30 pm

I totally agree with the fur coat thing! I can wear leather knowing that it mainly comes from animals that are raised to be eaten. They're going to be killed either way, so why not make the most use of the animal that you can? However, a fur coat is a completely ridiculous, unecessary "vanity" item. There's no point at all in owning/wearing one, unless you're a pimp or trophy wife. There's no practical use, as with leather.
I never gave much thought as to how bever fur was aquired!

If it were made in the US I'm sure PETA and such would have at least part of the industry keeping and shaving them. It really makes me wonder about rabbit fur. Now, a rabbit, you could easily shave with little to no ill effects as to their environment in captivity, as they're warm-blooded land-dwellers.

raindog · Post by **raindog** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:36 pm

Thing is Shawnkara that I think most of the fur felt bodies are imported from places like China, where caring about our furry friends is not exactly a priority.
Ditto with most other fur felt exporters I think.

Jeff.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:40 pm

I think the Native American Indians had the right idea. If you hunt and kill an animal, every part of it is useful. Nothing is thrown away.

Shawnkara · Post by **Shawnkara** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:44 pm

Careful, Bink! That line of thinking is how we got..... HEAD CHEESE!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:45 pm

Hey, I happen to like haggis and scrapple, so it's all good to me!

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:46 pm

Shawnkara wrote:Careful, Bink! That line of thinking is how we got..... HEAD CHEESE!

Hey, is that the same as brawn? Good stuff, don't diss the brawn!

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:04 pm

binkmeisterRick wrote:I think the Native American Indians had the right idea. If you hunt and kill an animal, every part of it is useful. Nothing is thrown away.

Amen to that. That doesn't mean it all has to be eaten. Some stuff could be used as paper weights or sports equipment.

I've seen skinless frozen rabbits in the meat section at certain specialty grocers. Rabbits, which not coincidentally happen to be cute as bunnies (go figure), are considered pests by some. Delicious pests. If I saw beaver meat in the deli I would try it and then just mentally assign that particular carcass as the one that donated its pelt for my fedora, though I surmise it likely wouldn't be true.

I do feel a bit tormented about wearing a dead rodent on my head, but it just look so durn cool, not like, say, a Davey Crockett hat. I put the disturbing images of skinned beavers with all the other ones that make me plug my ears and loudly shout "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!!!", filed under 'T' for traumatic.

Perhaps we could picture some rancher harvesting 'shaving scum' from the washroom sinks of beavers after they shave themselves. What ever gets you through the day, eh?

Arkansas Russell · Post by **Arkansas Russell** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:31 pm

Ive had beaver..
Bar-B-Qued...
It was quite good.
But then again Im from Arkansas, where we know about all kinds of good food..

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:45 pm

Haha!

I've got a buddy in school at Havard. One of his friends (from CA I believe) didn't believe that we hunt and eat squirrel here in WV.

Squirrel gravy anyone?

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:46 pm

I'll take a plate, thank you!

Hope you used your rifle this time. I hate spitting out lead shot.

Regards!

Michaelson

GraveRobberGreg · Post by **GraveRobberGreg** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:59 pm

J_Weaver wrote:Haha!

I've got a buddy in school at Havard. One of his friends (from CA I believe) didn't believe that we hunt and eat squirrel here in WV. Squirrel gravy anyone?

I can remember eating squirrel pot pie when I was a kid......yummy

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:01 pm

I wonder if there are squirrel-felt hats.

A lil squirrel hardly seems worth eating, but a beaver would have a lot of meat on it.

Oklahoma Jones · Post by **Oklahoma Jones** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:52 am

Had fried squirrel a couple of times as a kid, and also rabbit............can't beat it.............

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:53 am

Fried squirrel on a stick sounds pretty good...sure, less meat, but less work. Kind of like something you'd get to eat at the circus...in Arkansas.

(hehehe...sorry, Russell.

)

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:29 am

That does pose an interesting question... what other animals COULD be used to make hats? Would Moose and Squirrel work, or are we pretty much left with Beaver and Rabbit?

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:00 am

Sorry to barge in, folks, but this topic has become one more suited for the Fedora Lounge now.

We've done all we can do with this one, so it's time to shut her down.

As mmaroy says, 'move along....'

Regards! Michaelson