Wanted by the Mounties: 4,470 muskrat hats

[MikePal]

Good to hear the RCMP are creating a demand !!!

Canada's national police force says nothing tops muskrat fur for keeping officers' heads warm in extreme cold, and it has issued a tender for 4,470 of its traditional blue winter hats with ear flaps, lined and trimmed with muskrat fur.

"The fur must be Eastern Canada or New York state spring muskrat No. 1 quality, fully furred. Only extra-large skins with the belly trimmed off must be used," reads the request for proposals, published online.

Each hat is made of two to three pelts, which means it will take roughly 12,000 muskrats to fill the order.

Trappers, though, welcome the business.

"It's nice to see that recognition of Canadian heritage. The fur trade is part of Canada's history, of course, and still makes a lot of sense today because it is a natural, biodegradable, renewable resource," said Alan Herscovici, speaking for the Fur Council of Canada and website Truth About Fur.

He said that in 2016, Canada's rural trappers made $1.7 million from harvesting around 315,000 muskrats.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp...hats-1.4327556

[Hunter John]

Glad to see this.

[rick_iles]

Wasn’t there a firestorm when the RCMP tendered out for coyote fur for their winter coats ???? The same will likely happen here.

[dutchhunter]

Great news