Nutria sporrans?

**auld argonian** · 12th December 06, 08:56 AM

Has anyone ever heard of using the pelt of nutria for sporrans?

I ask because I heard a bit on NPR about a county in Louisianna where they have to ride around fragging these little guys because they're invasive species and ripping up the landscape. The look like mini-beavers and, while I tend to not fancy wearing the skin of anything that I would like to have as a pet...and I've had pet pigs...and I love a good ham sandwich, it looks like a nice material and almost a public service to create a demand for an invasive pest.

Best

AA

**cavscout** · 12th December 06, 09:16 AM

I've not heard of them but...

http://www.nutria.com/site4.php

**bubba** · 12th December 06, 09:52 AM

For anyone interested, http://www.chichesterinc.com/NutriaSkins.htm . They don't seem to be terribly expensive for a decent pelt.

**beerbecue** · 12th December 06, 10:36 AM

Nutria were originally held in captivity in that area specifically for their pelts. IIRC, a storm essentially unleashed them and now they are a huge pest problem......

**way2fractious** · 12th December 06, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by bubba

For anyone interested, http://www.chichesterinc.com/NutriaSkins.htm . They don't seem to be terribly expensive for a decent pelt.

This link shows pelts of 28" long by 8" across, cased, meaning 16" across if opened up. One pelt would be plenty to cover an 8" wide sporran, using side fur on the sporran sides. I have not seen a nutria pelt, but understand that it is really nice fur.

Main benefit of nutria overpopulation and depressed prices? Fur sporrans for all!

**sav** · 12th December 06, 10:57 AM

This sounds feasible to me...Post pics if you make one!

**bubba** · 12th December 06, 12:01 PM

IIRC, Nutria were imported from South America for the fur trade. Once they got loose they did the rabbit in Australia number. Another example of why it's not advisable to import nonnative species.

**Nanook** · 12th December 06, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Has anyone ever heard of using the pelt of nutria for sporrans?

No but looking at the pelts I think they'd make an amazing neo-mask sporran. Too bad one can't just order a single pelt since it'd pass without EU customs. Don't know about if they'd send as USPS slow boat.. but very very interesting.. would need a pattern and and and..

**Zardoz** · 12th December 06, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

look like mini-beavers and, while I tend to not fancy wearing the skin of anything that I would like to have as a pet...

I guess "like beaver or otter" sounds better than Giant Swamp Rat,

but that's what they are! You would not want one for a pet.

**auld argonian** · 12th December 06, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

I guess "like beaver or otter" sounds better than Giant Swamp Rat,

but that's what they are! You would not want one for a pet.

Oh, I've had rats for pets and they've been fantastic.

But those pet store rats are, as someone once said, as far away from wild rats as dogs are from coyotes. I understand that these are way-far from being anywhere near domesticated...being aquatic, I wouldn't want to share the bathtub with one anyway.

Best

AA