Ross has wanted to learn how to trap since he was a little boy. I grew up with brothers who trapped off and on, but myself only ever trapped lots of gophers, mice and one mink (caught by accident in my gopher trap). :) I trapped gopher for my Dad as they were prolific on the ranch and made holes all over the fields. Since moving here Ross has been able to fulfill his dream of learning about trapping. He loves it so much that sometimes I have to remind him that there are other things in this world to talk about other than trapping! ;) It gives him an outlet and an excuse to be outside when he gets ansi from being inside all day teaching. The girls have gone with a few times and get super excited when they bring home an animal. The girls and I don't mind trapping, but the animal lover in us feels sorry for the animal at times. The fur however is put to good use and the meat is used for trapping bait. Some people even eat the beaver meat, beaver tail, and beaver feet. Our pastor makes sausage out of lynx meat when a lynx is trapped. I haven't braved tasting beaver or lynx meat yet, but maybe some day! People wear fur up here as it is about the best thing to protect oneself from the bitter cold. We finally got our furs back from last year and they are tanned and ready to go. We are planning on making beaver or otter hats as well as beaver mittens for the girls, Ross, and myself. I have no idea how to make them, but am hoping to learn from a local gal who knows what she is doing.
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| Last winter, Ross was successful in catching some otter. Here he is, returning from a successful trapping trip! |
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| They look so cute and sweet, but actually they can be quite mean. |
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| A beaver that Ross caught towards the end of last winter. Almost as long as Marina. |
This year, Marina went out trapping with her Dad one night and came back with two beaver and several muskrat. Ross set up a muskrat line so he could introduce the girls to trapping and having their own line to check. The girls have had so much going on with swimming, piano, and homework that it didn't work for them to check them as often as Ross had hoped, but they enjoyed the times that they did get to go out with their Dad and came home with quite a few muskrat.
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| Here is the little beaver that Marina helped her Dad trap. |
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| And here is the monster beaver (60lbs) that they trapped! |
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| Mackenzie taking a turn at holding the little beaver. |
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| Now it's Aubrey's turn. You can tell it was at night when they returned as the girls that didn't go are in their pajamas! |
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| Two little beavers, trying to look like a real beaver. |
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| Hey! What are you doing? |
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| This beaver weighs about the same as Marina! |
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| Marina, showing the catch for the night. Two beaver and 3 muskrat. |
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| And one final picture with everybody! |
Ross has also been successful in trapping martin, lynx, and mink. This year he hopes to add a wolf, fox, and wolverine to his list.
