Nutria sporrans?

[Sir Robert]

I have a Nutria pelt that will become a sporran for New Years. The leather is of very poor quality. The fur is beautiful. Nutria grow up to 80+ pounds and you can make a sporran from a single pelt.

What I am going to do is use cowhide for the back and sides because of the mechanical weakness of the Nutria leather. the fur will be for a decorative facing only.

By the way I live in LaPlace, Louisiana.

[SouthernScot]

SouthernScot,

Where in Louisiana. I grew up about 15 miles from Hammond.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

Just on the eastern outskirts of Baton Rouge, before crossing the river into Denham Springs. I went to college in Hammond.... SLU.

Scot

[viator]

I have to necropost here, so I apologize. But my wife is from Albany, La which as SouthernScot must know, is basically the same place as Hammond. She graduated from SLU, and I even spent a semester there. Her dad works in LaPlace for an oil company. Which is all a roundabout way of saying "it's a small world after all."

Also, I didn't come across this thread searching or browsing within site, it was the first thing that came up when I Googled nutria sporrans. Because basically, I had the same idea the OP did. IMHO it's a great idea. It's one critter nobody will care if you blast them right off the continent. Save the wetlands!

I'll bet the right person could even get a government subsidy if they wanted to utilize nutria pelts as a significant portion of their business. Not that the market for nutria sporrans is enough to exterminate the pest. But every bit helps which is in and of itself a valid argument IMHO.

In fact, I might even be willing to commission a nutria sporran or two. Furry sporrans always seem to be great conversation starters, would be a great way to spread the knowledge about the problem. Also, PETA types can't be quite so livid when it's a major environmental threat strapped to your waist instead of a fuzzy bunny cuddly wabbit type critter.

[auld argonian]

I don't know if I brought this up before but I heard a spot on NPR about a sheriff down in Louisiana who has a running Nutria-snuffing posse going. The guys basically ride around and frag as many of the sweet little varmints as they can. I can see their point as these critters are decimating the natural environment...sounds like a cottage industry that would benefit both the bayou's and kilties everywhere...gen-u-ine Cajun Country Sporrans.

Best

AA

[Sean_the_Kilted]

The rest of the site http://www.chichesterinc.com/index.htm has all kinds of pelts, horns, antlers, dino crap (http://www.chichesterinc.com/DinoDung.htm)

Anyone need a full size stuffed moose? http://www.chichesterinc.com/MountedFullMoose.htm

[Tartan Hiker]

I don't know if I brought this up before but I heard a spot on NPR about a sheriff down in Louisiana who has a running Nutria-snuffing posse going. The guys basically ride around and frag as many of the sweet little varmints as they can. I can see their point as these critters are decimating the natural environment...sounds like a cottage industry that would benefit both the bayou's and kilties everywhere...gen-u-ine Cajun Country Sporrans.

Best

AA

Yep...that's good old Sherrif Harry Lee of Jefferson Parish. Too bad the article included the part about the deputies drinking generously during the "hunt", which doesn't do any good for the reputation of South Louisiana. Also, they aren't exterminating nutria to save the "natural environment", rather they are removing them from the drainage canals that channel water out of the developed areas (who doesn't know about the "canals" after all the Katrina coverage?). Nutria tunnel into the banks of the canals and cause water infiltration and eventual failure of the levees.
As common as Nutria are in the wetlands of Louisiana, trying to eradicate them there is probably a lost cause.

[kilted_brewer]

I have a Nutria pelt that will become a sporran for New Years. The leather is of very poor quality. The fur is beautiful. Nutria grow up to 80+ pounds and you can make a sporran from a single pelt.

What I am going to do is use cowhide for the back and sides because of the mechanical weakness of the Nutria leather. the fur will be for a decorative facing only.

Please show us pictures when it's finished! I'm with viator, and though I normally wouldn't consider a fur sporran, the conversation generated by a nutria sporran is one I think I could handle (versus the angry PETA variety).

[kallen]

1) Louisiana has parishes...NOT counties.

2) Nutrias only purpose is for feeding gators, they are the reason the LA gator is thriving...and why our gators are more docile than FL gators(animal not the univ.)

3) They have orange teeth...I kid you not, Orange Teeth.

That being said, Nutria fur is comparable to that of beaver, otter...but a heck of a lot cheaper. Matter of fact, if you want to get some, just come and take them...we'll let ya...really.

[Tartan Hiker]

While I was at LSU I dated a girl from Ruston.


Come to think of it..she had orange teeth, too.



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