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By Teena Monteleone

Fur Trade

Coyotes cash cows for Sask. trappers

Nov 18, 2019 | 1:53 PM

Saskatchewan fur trappers are anticipating another strong year thanks to a healthy coyote population and a continued demand for prairie pelts worldwide.

“I anticipate at this early stage in the season, that we will probably see harvest levels similar to the last few years which have been up from the long-term average,” Fur and Problem Wildlife Specialist Mike Gollop from the Ministry of Environment, said

Last year, coyote fur made up the bulk of fur sales in the province bringing in a record $4.6 million, with the majority of coyotes being harvested in southern Saskatchewan. There is no limit on the number of coyotes that can be trapped and although they can be harvested throughout the year, most trappers are just starting their seasons which will continue until mid February.

“We’re boasted here as having some of the world’s best [coyote pelts] and it has to do with the heaviness of the fur and the size of coyotes and the colour of coyote as well,” Wrangler Hamm, president of the Saskatchewan Trappers Association, said.

The number of trapping licences in Saskatchewan has increased in recent years. During the 2017-18 season, there were over 4,600 licences distributed, not including Indigenous trappers on First Nations land. In 2010 there were just over 2,700 licences issued.

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“In the South there is a lot of people that are focused on coyotes and when coyote prices go up they jump back in to trapping so that could be a driver that’s increasing licences,” Gollop said.

Saskatchewan fur typically gets shipped out to auction or to private buyers worldwide and Hamm said consumer demand is still strong, especially for coyote fur.

In northern Saskatchewan, coyote numbers aren’t as strong, but there is a greater variety of fur bearing species like marten, muskrat, beaver and red fox.

“Licence sales and the general interest in trapping tends to be far more steady in the North. It doesn’t fluctuate with the tides like it does in the South,” Gollop said.

According to the Saskatchewan Wild Fur Harvest and Cash Values report, last year the average pelt price for a marten was nearly $82, while a coyote pelt averaged $116.

“It’s great to see for the trapping industry and also wildlife management purposes,” Hamm added.

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Editors note: This story was updated on Nov. 19 to correct attribution of quotes.

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone