Fur retail had a great month in March! Let's start with the Canada Goose IPO, which soared 27% on the Toronto Stock Exchange on its first day. We guess the crazy protesters outside their stores aren't scaring off investors and customers. And there are other stores celebrating, too! Sch'dy Furs is celebrating 50 years in business, and Hinsdale Furriers has made it to 65 years. And hats off to Gently Loved Furs who have made it to their 10-year anniversary and the Anchorage furriers who are adapting their businesses to the changing times.

Speaking of changing times, the Fall 2017 fashion trends are leaning towards fur, very colourful fur to be exact. We were thrilled to hear that We Are Fur counted fur on 67% of the Fall 2017 catwalk shows. What's it like to wear fur-lined shoes every day? This guy tried it out and enjoyed it thoroughly. If you are looking for some new fur, then check out one of Lysa Lash's trunk shows; this Canadian designer is well known for her personalized service in fur retail.

But not everyone is rushing out to buy furs, some people are standing outside fur stores protesting. But the fur protesters outside Canada Goose stores are the least of our worries. These activists stormed a church demanding animals be treated like Christians, while this crazy woman crashed her car into a truck carrying chickens because she is vegan. PETA says that being vegan makes you less aggressive but we are pretty sure there isn't an ounce of truth to this. And next time an activist tells you to switch to fake fur, remember to tell them the bad news: many fake furs aren't even vegan (above).

Sadly we are coming up to the key "season" for animal rights activists: the commercial seal hunt starts soon and this is the activists' main opportunity to raise money by using photos of baby seals (that aren't even hunted). If you want some facts (real facts) about the seal hunt, the Seals and Sealing website is a good start. The film Angry Inuk continues to have an impact on how people view the seal hunt, but we still need to work hard on spreading the good word about this traditional, sustainable hunt.

While we are on the subject of tradition and wild furs, these articles highlight the traditional aspects of trapping in Kansas and Vermont, and this Canadian trapper is passing on the know-how of his trade. We firmly believe that wild fur is the most eco-friendly clothing choice and trapping is an activity that must continue.

Let's end our roundup with some news stories we found extremely useful or interesting:

This article encourages farmers to be ambassadors for their trade;

Eagles are now the weapon of choice against drones (pictured above);

This is how to protect yourself against a mountain lion;

Canada Goose isn't just a clothing brand, it is a dangerous predator!

If you haven't visited www.truthaboutfur.com for some time, you're in for a pleasant surprise: North America's premiere fur website has been completely rebuilt to better answer the key questions that people are asking about the modern fur trade.

Truth About Fur was created to inform and reassure consumers, retailers, designers, teachers, journalists, political leaders, and anyone else interested in getting the facts about this remarkable heritage industry. Through expert interviews, media coverage, and in-depth articles, the Truth About Fur website is a fact-driven resource about the trade, hence the tagline All Facts, No Fiction.

In addition to a redesign, the website has new features and content aimed at dispelling myths about the trade and giving a human face to the people who work in it.

• A video, entitled “The North American Fur Trade in 2-Minutes Flat”, explains the processes from raw materials to finished products, as well as facts and figures about the trade.

• The new Ethics of Fur section shows clearly that the modern fur trade satisfies the ethical criteria generally accepted by society as the basis for when and how we use animals.

• The life cycle of fur production is explained in detail in the section How Fur Is Produced.

• The Fur Family Album features both archival and submitted photography of the people who make up the trade, including trappers living off the land, third- and fourth-generation farmers, and highly skilled craftsmen.

• The Q&A section covers those questions most often asked about the trade, with responses from experts including veterinarians, trappers, farmers and biologists. Questions include: Is trapping humane? Are animals skinned alive for their fur? Does fur-dressing harm the environment? The main activist criticisms of the fur trade are also analyzed and refuted with facts.

• The blog features weekly articles covering a variety of topics including current issues affecting the trade, profiles and interviews with key players.

• Two new Chinese-language versions of the site are now available (in traditional and simplified characters), and a French-language version will be launched soon.

• Now mobile-compatible, the site will be easily accessed directly from our social media platforms, including our Facebook page which now has over 45,000 followers.

“For much too long, animal activists directed and dominated the public discussion about the ethics of using fur. With our completely re-engineered website and social-media platforms we are giving a voice to the real people of the fur trade,” says Alan Herscovici, Truth About Fur’s senior writer and researcher.

“We urge everyone in the trade to visit the new fur website, and to use this powerful new tool whenever questions about the environmental, animal-welfare or ethical justification of the fur trade are raised.”

TruthAboutFur.com is produced in cooperation with the main North American fur trade associations and auctions, and with support from the International Fur Federation (Americas).

F is for February, Fur and Fashion so let's start this month's roundup with some fur fashion news. We loved this article about why Russian women love fur, and while there is certainly an element of glamour attached to fur coats, the message is overwhelmingly about warmth, something a fake fur will never be able to provide.

As well as being winter, it is also runway show season, and where there are fashion shows, there are furs. If you want a fashion update but aren't looking to buy new, check out our guide on recycling old fur coats, or if you want an option that is super low impact (pardon the pun) then why not look into roadkill furs? Our fur coat of the month was definitely this teen's seal skin parka. It looks great and we love the story behind it.

On the subject of seals, one of Canada's most outspoken seal hunt activists, throat singer Tanya Tagaq, was temporarily banned from Facebook over a seal skin photo. She was quickly reinstated and an apology followed, so this would hardly be called a win for the animal rights activists. Speaking of losers, we love this Super Bowl ad about the Humane Society of the United States (above), and the fact that the noise levels of anti-fur protests are now being monitored. Wait? Don't you want screaming lunatics shouting at you on your way home? No, and it seems that animal rights activists ARE getting more aggressive. Here's why.

In other animal rights news, activists are trying to get London Fashion Week to ban fur (unlikely to happen), the video depicting "abuse" on the set of A Dog's Purpose was proven to have been misleading, and we've found this great website exposing Trip Advisor, the travel reviews website, for working with PETA. They are refusing to let people book holiday activities that involve animals. Well, I guess we can all go to another website to plan our holidays, right?

It's a good thing that coyote fur fashion trims have become so popular on parkas and coyote fur sales are rising, as we need a reason to keep trapping them. Coyotes in California (above) have gotten so brazen they are attacking giant dogs, on leashes! There were two legal victories for trappers last month: a judge dismissed a lawsuit over incidental lynx trapping, and Republicans in the US backed off their plan to sell 3.3 million acres of public land.

Some other things we learnt in February:

Ultra orthodox Jews are an unexpected ally for pro-fur advocates.

This is model behaviour for hunters who are being harassed by anti-hunters.

You can get clothing made from knit dog fur.

Bison are back in Banff, and we hope they stay.

Stay warm out there, friends!

Let's start our January news roundup with a story that has warmed our hearts: the story of a pair of fur farm vandals being jailed for their crimes. Nicole Kissane was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay $423,477 in restitution, while her partner in crime is already serving a two-year sentence. Let this be a lesson to anyone planning on releasing mink and vandalizing fur farms!

In other good activist news, PETA is facing two lawsuits, anti-fur police impersonators are getting in trouble, and activists in the UK are going to be unmasked. If you are unsure about the difference between PETA and HSUS, this educational video (above) will be helpful, and if you need some help wading through the hundreds of lies these organizations use to further their agenda, here is our list of 5 Biggest Lies Animal Activists Tell About Fur.

At least the activists aren't preventing people buying or wearing fur: these second-generation and fourth-generation furriers are thriving. Meanwhile, if you are looking for a furry baby gift, check out these stuffed animals made of real fur. And celebrities have not stopped donning their pelts, including the Duchess of Cambridge (below) and Puff Daddy. Need some inspiration for your wardrobe? Here are 8 Musicians Who Rocked Some Serious Fur Coats in 2016.

If you are in the market for something a bit more discreet, then how about these mink-lined shoes? Or something a bit more affordable? Here are some fur-lined parkas that won't break the budget. If you've already got a fur collection but you need some tips of taking care of it, then check out our piece about protecting your furs from moths or this article about how to clean "fancy" fabrics.

Our trapper friends will most likely agree with these articles about how trappers aren't bad guys, the old-fashioned challenges are the lure, and how trapping is about being in the great outdoors. While we are on the topic of wild fur, we were thrilled to hear that Angry Inuk won the People's Choice Award at this film festival (above) and this Vancouver restaurant is re-opening the debate of the seal hunt, by offering seal meat on its menu.

Chili Dog Anyone?

Farmers have been busy, as usual, dealing with drones that scare their animals and trying to educate their non-farmer friends. And does run-off from mink farms damage marine life? The answer is no.

Let's end this month's roundup with a few questions to reflect on:

Is it ok for the general public to dispatch an animal in distress?

Could you survive a power outage in Antarctica?

Is a spicy dog vest the answer to fending off wolves? (above)

Do dolphins use a wing man to meet the ladies?

Can a pair of fox shorts save your life?

Let's start our November news roundup by celebrating the trapping victory in Montana. Bill i-177, which would have prohibited the use of animal traps on public lands, was voted down. Well done Montanans!

In other trapping news, raccoons are part of a legal battle in New Jersey, with animal rights activists fighting against the use of enclosed foothold traps. Did we mention these raccoons are rabid? Let's hope it doesn't take a major outbreak of rabies to make this court case go away. Speaking of legal battles, there is one under way in Maine over incidental lynx trapping (see above), whereas in Canada there has been a proposed private members bill to designate May 20 as National Seal Products Day. We love this idea and give it our seal of approval.

As we are full on into trapping season, it's worth sharing a few good reads from last month. Here's an interesting piece on the impact of the trade of Amazonian furs in the mid-20th century. Gregory Thompson did a great job giving us tips and advice on maintaining good relationships with the landowners of the land you trap on. And this piece about the use of coyote furs on Canada Goose parkas is also a great read. Lastly, we were thrilled to hear that Neal Jotham got a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Museum of Nature for his central role in the creation and adoption of international standards on humane animal traps used in the fur industry. We also featured him in our blog earlier this year.

Let's move on to a topic that is a bit more ... fashionable. Canada Goose has opened a new store in New York City (see above), and it includes a few fashionable pieces, like a silk parka from a collaboration they did with Opening Ceremony. While the parka sure looks nice, we are pretty sure the main reason why people buy Canada Goose, or any item with fur, is because it is warm. That's a concept we explored in a blog post, where we discussed the fact that fur is not just for fashion. So if you are looking to keep warm this winter, check out our guide to buying vintage fur, have a look at Lilly e Violetta's everyday furs, or check out the kangaroo fur shoes that all the celebrities are wearing.

The animal rights activists stooped to new lows last month when one protested a veterans parade to push her vegan agenda, and when this sustainable school got death threats for teaching small-scale family farming. Stella McCartney and Morrissey, two of the most annoying celebrity animal rights activists, also got media attention for harping on about the same old thing, over and over again. We of course loved this article about how vegetarianism and veganism are destroying the planet - it is a good one to read and share. And we explained the truth behind one of PETA's (many) lies: that fur farming in the U.S. is not regulated.

Some final thoughts ...

Do you need Christmas tree decoration ideas? How about decorations made of fur? They didn't go down too well in this hotel in Munich but we would gladly take the fur fir tree off their hands.

Have you ever wanted to witness the miracle of child birth? Yeah, it's not for everyone, but we are all about witnessing fawn birth. This video is beautiful.

Our most-shared Instagram post was one of these guys wearing buffalo fur coats (see above). We're pretty sure you won't get cold wearing these!

What would you do if your dog ran into a wolf? Most of us would run, but this guy stupidly stuck around to film it. At least it makes for some interesting viewing.

Going out into the woods this season? We loved this handy list of essentials for the wild.

Lastly, it is the holiday season, and that means it's time to indulge a little. Just don't end up like this drunk squirrel, ok?

The time of year is approaching when the main thing on many people's minds is trapping. But we aren't just talking about where and when to go trapping, or what to say to your boss if you want to skip work to go trapping. We're also talking about a very important Montana trapping ballot coming up on Nov. 8. If it passes, it will ban trapping on the state's public lands. Vote Clinton or vote Trump, that's your decision, but please make sure you vote NO on i-177. The campaign has been primarily funded by out-of-state animal rights groups. If they win this, they'll be one step closer to banning all trapping and hunting, and to their ultimate goal of making us all vegan. We're serious, that is their goal.

Times like this highlight the importance of supporting your fellow sportsmen, even if they don't partake in the same outdoor activities as you. Uniting sportsmen was the subject of our latest blog post, and if you want to learn more about the Montana ballot, read what the Sportsmen's Alliance has to say. We liked these two op-ed pieces about the Montana vote, too: Trapping doesn’t hurt pets, as long as pets controlled and Vote no on the anti-trapping initiative.

Other states are also considering the future of outdoor pursuits, notably Kansas which will soon be voting on whether fishing and hunting are a right or privilege.

In other trapping news, New Zealand continues to find ways to control its invasive possums, with a booming fur trade and now a dog food trade. And what's not to love about a 10-year-old Minnesota girl who loves trapping (above)?

Activist Shenanigans

Meanwhile, the activists are up to their usual shenanigans. Pamela Anderson is trying to promote her anti-animal-use lifestyle while praising Vladimir Putin. "He loves wildlife," she opines, but he's also an avid hunter. Should someone tell her? And these heartless people hurled abuse at a child with terminal cancer because he wanted to try bullfighting, with one telling him to "just die".

There have been a few articles examining the real agenda of animal rights groups. Our favourites include a piece about how they want to end all animal domestication, including pet ownership, and this one about why it's unethical to oppose animal research. Good news includes the failure of this "fundamentally flawed" animal rights bill in Canada, and a piece on TruthAboutFur about how one man took on, and beat, some animal rights bullies.

As winter is rolling in, we are thinking about fox fur-lined parkas (above) and otter fur scarves, like the ones the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wore when they visited Canada in October. And if you know anyone who is on the fence about wearing fur, be sure to share the following TruthAboutFur post. We think it is a pretty clear explanation about Why we must wear leather and fur.

Other articles that caught our eye included this one about the cost of groceries in the far north of Canada. We hope this makes activists think twice about criticizing the way of life up there, including the hunting. One of our contributing editors was a guest on a fashion podcast and talked about the fur trade. We've got your wildlife lesson sorted for this month with some interesting information about mink and bobcats. And our fur photo of the month award goes to the Royal Family of Denmark, who were photographed in seal skin for the latest Greenland stamp (above). Animal rights activists were not impressed but we certainly were.

Let's end with our two favourite videos of the month: one documenting the pros and cons of the fur trade, and this one, a lesson on why it is a bad idea to text and walk. We'll give you a hint why: bearssss.

It's time for our September Fur In The News roundup and we want to talk about fur fashion! Namely the "hat of the season", which just happens to be a trapper hat made of fur (above). Those are fashion trends we can get on board with! And for the guys, it's all about fur slides. Have you bought your pair yet? And be sure to check out this fantastic feature in Vogue's September issue.

Speaking of trapper hats, we were pleased to read this article about how more women are hunting. It would be nice to hear of the same thing happening with trapping. And speaking of women in trapping, here's a lady who truly inspires us. We love this video of Jane Dragon telling us about how nothing is wasted when using animals - a great example of how to use animals responsibly.

In other trapping and wild fur news, we are hopeful about these plans to protect a vast area of land in Ontario, Canada, which will have incredibly positive benefits for the people who live, trap, and hunt on those lands. A feature on the coyote (above) taught us a lot about this resilient creature, while this piece on the effect of the EU seal ban on the people of Greenland was worrying. The ban is not doing them any good, that's for sure.

If you are a trapper in Montana, don't forget to vote NO against this proposition to ban trapping on public lands. Did you do anything fun on National Hunting, Fishing (and Trapping!) Day? We celebrated in Canada on the 17th and in the US on the 24th. This interesting chart (below) shows the different animals that are trapped in the province of Quebec.

We can't write a news roundup without including some activist shenanigans, so here they are. An interesting trend we are seeing is the activists turning on themselves. This isn't the first time we've read about vegans who don't approve of PETA's marketing tactics, but this might be the first time we actually agree with the them! Speaking of vegans, Italy is talking about outlawing veganism for kids.

But not all activists are busy writing articles (we wish), there are many who are up to no good. This Canadian activist is being investigated by police for threatening to kill the mayor of Miami. (Please let him go to jail! Please let him go to jail!) PETA is keeping itself busy by trying to control the content of a video game which is as ridiculous as it sounds. And the dumbest activist of the month award goes to this one who got stuck in a bear trap while he was trying to remove the bait. We feel really sorry for him. Not.

We've penned our own little attack on PETA ... Ok, let's call it a little investigation instead. We've looked into one of PETA's angora rabbit videos (above) to try and determine whether it was staged. A good read, indeed!

Let's end our roundup with a few articles of note, starting with this blog post, entitled Why Fur Is the Ethical Clothing Choice, which explores public opinion about animal use and the ethics of the fur trade and fur fashion. We loved the story of the fisherman who found this ancient axe while fishing for bass. And lastly, the horror story of the month is one about Russians, namely two married couples stuck in a small cabin in the Arctic and waiting for a rescue that is a month away. Can you imagine the arguments?!? Oh yeah, and they are also surrounded by hungry polar bears.

As we are now officially into fur season, this month's Fur in the News roundup features a lot of fur fashion, and some faux fur pas ...

If you are in denial that summer is over, never fear, we still have a few good tips on how to combine fur into your beachwear wardrobe. Elle has several suggestions on how to wear fur on the beach (above) and Cindy Crawford shows us how to wear fur boots on a boat trip. Too bad she wasn't in a kayak made of seal skin. Lucky for us, the summer's most popular parka was made of fur and we think it will transition nicely into your fall fashion wardrobe. What else should you be wearing for fall? The fashionistas are suggesting fur sandals and these amazing fur backpacks from Fendi. Back to school is very chic this year!

If you love fur fashion, then you might be interested in reading about the longest fashion collaboration to date - the one between Karl Lagerfeld and Fendi which has resulted in some incredible fur fashion. And if you want to learn the tricks of the trade, then check out this school in Finland which teaches the skills to design and make fur garments.

There's been a lot of press about trapping, hunting and wild fur. (I guess the anticipation for hunting and trapping season is starting to grow!) New Zealand's possum fur industry (above) is really taking off, while Canadian media are talking about beavers (or furry, flat-tailed fiends, as some describe them) and muskrats. (This is a pretty good list of seven cool facts about P.E.I.'s muskrats.) Wolf hunting is making headlines, in Canada where there are concerns about a wolf trapping ban, and in Montana, where wolves appear to be very abundant. Speaking of wolves, bookmark this video of a man intentionally sticking his hand in a wolf trap, to show they do not cause a lot of pain.

The animal rights activists have been up to their usual no good, this time protesting to change the name of Tasmania’s Eggs and Bacon Bay to Apple and Cherry Bay. Locals are not impressed and they aren't the only ones who think animal rights activists go too far.

Faux Fur Pas

On the bright side, there has been a lot of media coverage recently on the negative side of fake fur, or what we like to call faux fur pas. This piece refers to faux fur as poison and this one talks about the harmful effects synthetics have on marine life. We have done a little test of our own, to see what biodegrades faster, real fur or faux fur (above). The results so far are quite astonishing. We aren't sure what to think about this company trying to make leather without cows, but we are watching closely.

We loved this insightful fur industry profile from National Geographic, as well as the radio interview with the author that followed. But while fur remains popular on the catwalks, and is even being credited with helping us survive the last Ice Age (above), there's no denying fur farmers are going through a lean patch.

Helpful and Just Plain Weird!

Let's end this month's roundup with some helpful educational materials, some related to fur and some not so much! We'll start with a chart (above) on how to tell real fur from fake. Or if you want to identify that bird of prey eyeing your trapline just by looking at its claws, here's a very useful claw chart. (Please let us know if there are better uses for this chart!)

People have 1,001 recommendations for removing skunk odor. If you've tried 1,000 of them, here's the 1,001st! And here's a tip that may save your life one day - what not to do if you run into a short-sighted lion!

Most of us already know that vegetarians are a leading cause of deforestation, but precisely three of you could even imagine how anglerfish mate! Talk about bonding!

And last but not least, how cute are these otters chasing a butterfly?

July may be the slowest month on the fur calendar, but some issues never go away, especially if they enter the legal system. Take the Great Lakes wolves. The hunt was off, then it was on, and now it's off again. It's supposed to be about the numbers, but the precautionary principle must trump all, says Nancy Warren of the National Wolfwatcher Coalition. “Wolves have reached the numeric goals for delisting” in Minnesota, she concedes, but when they're faced with threats like climate change, current numbers apparently don't matter.

Wisconsin's inhabitants might not agree. With hunting and trapping banned, the state's wolf population is now more than double its official goal of 350.

Taking the lead against the Great Lakes wolves lawsuit filed by HSUS is the Ohio-based Sportsmen’s Alliance. Truth About Fur interviewed spokesman Brian Lynn on today’s trapping challenges in general. Though most of the Alliance’s members are hunters and fishermen, it is strongly committed to the interests of trappers too. “Trappers are the ones on the front lines," he says. "They are constantly under attack [from] animal rights organisations, legislation, the ballot box … Whether it is changing the seasons, eliminating the seasons, or regulating traps, they are getting hammered left and right.”

The next major battle will be fought in Montana, where a ballot initiative is coming up this November that could stop all trapping on public lands. Pundits are saying it could go either way.

In other hunting and trapping news, British Columbia has banned the use of drones. It might seem like just another government intrusion, but most hunters and trappers seem supportive. But this man from North Carolina is seriously not a fan of big government. All he did was try to get a family of foxes out of his yard, only to find himself mired in regulations and conflicting advice. Did you know that North Carolina has no fewer than 27 different seasons for hunting foxes and 22 for trapping them, all depending on where you live?

Sex and Drugs and ... a Little Bit of Modelling

On the fashion front, a very unusual story appeared last month as a prelude to “a major motion picture”. Elle magazine spilled the beans on a “drug-fueled, multimillion-dollar supermodel snowpocalypse” that took place in 1977. Besides lots of fur pics, readers are given a candid insight into the behaviour of models and photographers back then. Is it different now?

And fashion designer-cum-hypocrite Stella McCartney is still taking shots at her fur-using peers. Her latest theory is that designers who use fur are just bloody-minded. “There are a lot of designers who are very ‘f*ck you’ when it comes to using fur,” she says. “If it’s wrong to do fur, then they’re going to do it.” Or maybe all they really want to say is “f*ck you”, as in, “f*ck you, Stella”. While she makes a huge deal of not using animal products, she has no problem using silk, made by boiling moth pupae alive.

On a positive note, we are happy to announce that wearing fur will not get you splattered with red paint. It's an urban myth. Spread the word!

Exotic Fibres

We had two stories last month about fibres which, to North Americans at least, are exotic. Yak wool from Mongolia may be set to break onto the fashion scene, and New Zealand is making headway promoting its beautiful, durable and warm possum-merino yarn.

New Zealand's challenge, though, is more complex than selling a product which should sell itself. It faces a huge possum pest problem, and wants to demonstrate to sensitive consumers that killing methods are humane by international standards. Scientist Bruce Warburton, consultant for the Fur Council of New Zealand, sums up the perception problem well: "People use anti-coagulants to get rid of rats, but everyone gets worked up about trapping possums. There are a lot of inconsistencies about the way we deal with furry creatures."

How Much???

Let's round off with a couple of reminders why most of us must spend more time producing and promoting high-end furs than we will ever spend wearing them!

Former supermodel (all models are "supermodels" now, right?) Christina Estrada filed divorce proceedings against her oil baron hubby (who, as it happened, died this July). As part of the settlement she is asking for £40,000 annually just to buy a new fur coat! If you think that's rich, she also wants £6.52 million a year in child support, and that's for one kid.

Considerably cheaper, but still in the OMG category, are a pair of fur sandals recently sported by Kim Kardashian. The headline was how could she wear fur in 100-degree weather? But it should have been the price of these two little bits of nothing. $895! No wonder trappers feel they're not sharing in the industry's wealth!

Every month, as I read through the past month's fur news headlines, I think to myself, "Wow, this animals rights activism story is even stupider than the ones from last month." This month is no exception. In fact, June might be hard to beat because the activists have been up to some seriously stupid stuff. Let's have a look.

In this article, PETA suggests that eating a burger is the same as eating your dog (pictured above). It is also campaigning to get Lululemon to stop using goose down in its jackets, and replace it with something synthetic. Great idea! Let's "save" the geese by replacing them with petroleum-based products instead - so much safer for the animals and the environment, right? But this shouldn't come as a surprise, given that these people value the life of a gorilla over that of a 3-year-old boy and think that setting fire to buses is going to further their cause.

Can you handle a bit more stupid? Here are our top three seriously stupid animal rights shenanigans from June.

Third place goes to the woman who spent $300 to get a lobster from the grocery store back into the sea. I guess she doesn't realise that buying lobsters only contributes to demand, and her particular lobster was probably caught again 20 minutes after its release. (Grocery stores are all, like, "Lobster sales are going up! Even vegans are buying 'em!")

Second place goes to the vile, disgusting PETA people who are using the Orlando shooting as ammunition (pardon the pun!) for their anti-hunting agenda. America's largest mass shooting does not, I repeat, DOES NOT, deserve to be compared to hunting deer. EVER!

Deer Vasectomies?

Speaking of deer, the first place spot goes to the imbecile who thinks the best way to control the deer population on Staten Island is to start a 2 million dollar a year male deer vasectomy program, which the New York Department of Environmental Conservation thinks is a bad idea, and will have “limited effectiveness” and be “unable to quickly reduce deer-human conflicts.”

And let's give the special runner-up award to Kimberly Sherriton, a housewife in Long Island who organised a series of protests outside a farm because she wanted to save the life of a cow that they were going to slaughter to eat. The best part? Her solution was, "Please, tell him to go to Whole Foods and go get some antibiotic-free beef there." Because Whole Foods sells beef from cows that weren't slaughtered, right? I can't even deal with this level of stupid.

If you haven't heard enough about the animal rights activists, then read about the crazy things animal rights activists say (some of these are quite disturbing), how animal-rights extremists endanger animals, four ways mainstream animal rights movements are oppressive, and the ugly truth about PETA.

Renowned Trapper

Moving on to the furry stuff! We just posted this piece about a renowned Canadian trapper on our blog (pictured below), definitely worth a read and if you want to know more, he's written a book about his life! This is a great video on trapping, entitled Meet Your Local Trapper, and Vice has once again shown its support for hunting and trapping by publishing How to Make It as a Fur Trapper in Northern Alberta. Ever wondered why mink is the world's favourite fur? We sure did, and that's why we wrote this blog post about mink fur.

If you are struggling to find ways to include fur in your summer wardrobe (the struggle is real, people) then Vogue's piece 14 Ways to Wear Fur All Summer Long has some really useful tips. If you are in a shopping mood, then you'll be pleased to hear that Kluger Furs has expanded and Adrienne Landau is now selling online, thanks to Beyoncé and Madonna. And if you are looking for a few soft materials to fill in the gaps of your fur wardrobe (maybe the summer mink ideas weren't working for you?) then keep an eye out for this new blend: perino.

A few more links worth reading:

When activists tell you that the majority of Americans think wearing fur is wrong, then they are lying. Americans think wearing fur is more acceptable than medical testing on animals, cloning, and extramarital affairs.

Want a job after college? Study agriculture - possibly one of the most secure fields of all.

Does real fur biodegrade faster than fake fur? We are doing a test called The Great Fur Burial.

We all know black, brown, grizzly, and polar bears, but have you heard of the pizzly bear?

Looking for a new job? Looks like there's an opening for a reindeer herder in the Northwest Territories (pictured above).

We don't mind breastfeeding in public, but we don't recommend doing it in the middle of the road. And yes, this is vaguely fur-related :)

It's time for our monthly Fur In The News roundup, and as always, we'll be looking at the latest fur stories, but we'll start with a couple of more general interest. First up, there's a new illustrated parasite guide doing the rounds (above) that speaks for itself. Please share widely!

Then there's the story of how nasty scorned vegans can be, which surprised even us. When a group of Californians found out one of their favourite vegan restaurants had owners who raised their own animals and then slaughtered them, they got a bit upset. Actually, more than a bit upset, they started sending the restaurant owners death threats. We are still trying to figure out how someone can claim to care about animals' lives, but threaten human lives. It makes no sense! Then again, neither does not eating meat or not wearing fur.

Since we are on the topic of activists doing stupid things, here is a story about a ridiculous anti-meat protest in Barcelona (above), where people covered themselves in "human meat" packaging. And here's another one about PETA claiming that "eating chicken will make your kid's d**k small."

But thankfully, the media are exposing them. Here's a great article about how PETA is a hate group in disguise, this article talks about how the end to killer whale breeding at Sea World is step one in a vicious activism plan to get rid of all animal use, and this article gives some great tips on how to avoid hiring an animal rights activist on your farm.

Fur Farm News

Speaking of farms, a recent mink release in Ontario has prompted an investigation by the police and a $100K reward, and the Ontario SPCA (which tends to be more anti-fur than pro) has asked that people bring farm concerns to them, instead of taking the law into their own hands. International Fur Federation CEO Mark Oaten wrote a great piece rebuffing a number of massively distorted "facts" (if we can even call them that) in a recent Daily Mail article about Russian fur farms. And while this is not directly related to fur farming, we absolutely love this in-depth piece about the cage-free chicken movement and how it is not best for the animals.

There is even some infighting amongst the silly activists, because they are divided on whether breaking into farms and releasing mink to their death is a good idea or not. When the majority of the released mink end up dying and their newborn kits die of starvation, I think we all know that this SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

American trappers are seeing some opposition from various groups, firstly in Montana where there is talk of a ban on trapping on public lands and another group attempting to halt the export of bobcat and wolf skins. In Canada, a film maker has been praised for her film documenting the importance of the seal hunt for Canadian Inuits (above) and we published a blog post about a trip to a trapping workshop in Ontario. We also like this handy list of survival traps and these guidelines on protecting your pets from traps.

On the fashion front, we are very excited about Fendi's upcoming fur couture show, which will take place in July. (Remember last year?) We also published an inspiring piece about a fashion student who took part in a fur workshop that changed his life.

And here are a few links that will teach you something interesting or make you smile:

Fur, wool, hair: What's the difference?
Where did we get our food before supermarkets?
Alligators like playing golf
Crabs are very dangerous, especially when they are yielding knives
Baby beavers are cute (pictured above)
Mother raccoons are great at getting their kids to climb trees
What would happen if meat eaters acted like vegans?

LESLIE BALLENTINE: And last but certainly not least, in late May we lost a dear friend and a remarkable collaborator. Leslie Ballentine worked for some 30 years to help producers tell their stories and reply to animal rights challenges, including work with Ontario egg producers and later as founding Director of Ontario Farm Animal Council, and more recently as communications consultant for the Fur Institute of Canada and Truth About Fur, among other clients. Leslie’s knowledge, commitment and passion for our work will be sorely missed. We send our sincere condolences to Leslie’s husband Alan, to her daughter Kailin and to other family and friends. You left us too soon and we miss you already, Leslie. Thank you for all your hard work in our field.

It's time for our April Fur in the News roundup, so here's our summary of the media's coverage of trapping, sealing, fur fashion and stupid activists ...

Let's start with trapping, and this fantastic guest blog post by "modern trapper" Jeff Traynor (pictured), who talks about his love for this age-old skill and its traditions. Outdoor Canada recognized the importance of trapping and why hunters need to support Canada's oldest profession. "There was some income involved, there certainly was a pursuit involved, and it's an accumulative hobby,” veteran trapper Victor Blanchette is quoted as saying. It rings true, of course; Blanchette has been trapping for 50 years and knows what he's talking about.

Need to know when to sell your furs? This handy article from Grandview Outdoors gives some tips for trappers who need to decide whether to sell or store their skins. And if you ever get a cougar stuck in a trap, here is one way to release him (pictured.) But kids, it is best not to try this at home, or outside.

Of course trapping isn't without its controversy; like most animal-related activities, there is always someone complaining. The latest uproar is about a beaver derby in Saskatchewan, which sees beavers getting trapped and their skins getting used. But activists want the derby stopped so that the beaver carcasses get left to rot in fields instead. Speaking of beavers, some residents of this community don't want the local beavers to be trapped, even though residents' homes are at risk of being flooded. They claim it is unfair for the beavers to be killed because they are only doing what "is natural to them." It would be natural to a coyote to eat your cat, or a cougar to eat your toddler. Should we let them get away with that, too?

Activists just don't get it, do they? Case in point: this story about an ostrich who was released from a circus, and who died after being hit by a car ten minutes later. Another "liberation" gone desperately wrong. What is wrong with these people? A lot, we think, especially after reading this article about an "escalation workshop" for activists. The content in there was so messed up that we decided to include it in our new column, Things Animal Rights Activists Say (pictured). Read it to hear activists showing zero compassion for humans, including sick people and suicide victims, because animals are more important, right?

And to round out the month, activists put their misguided zeal into practice on the night of April 29, "liberating" mink from a farm in Ontario. A sizeable reward has been offered for the capture of the perpetrators. Let's hope someone can claim it!

On the bright side, it was nice to hear that a store in Vancouver, Canada, who has been dealing with militant anti-fur protesters in front of its store for three years, has announced that this year has been its best ever season for Canada Goose parka sales. It warms our heart when we hear that activists' actions fail.

On the fashion front, we question the real motives behind Giorgio Armani's fur ban (and guess what, we don't think it has anything to do about caring for animals). This article talks about the resurgence of real and faux fur in fashion, while this one talks about the differences.

April was sealing month, which means fundraising time for the animal rights charities who get donations by fooling people into thinking white coats get clubbed on the ice. (They don't, and that hasn't happened since the '80s.) Our favourite sealing spokesperson, Tanya Tagaq, had this to say about the matter. These incredible photos show a side to the hunt that we don't see portrayed in the media enough. And here is an innovative way to use seal skin - we can't wait to stock up on Aurora Heat next winter. And there is no shortage of sealing memes around, including one showing the incredible size of the seal populations, another making fun of protestors (pictured), and this one highlighting yet another celebrity fur hypocrite.

Let's finish off with a couple more things...

• Wearing fur is a great way to celebrate Earth Day.
• This might be the greatest pencil sharpener in the world (pictured).
• Our Facebook friends called us out on a really serious mistake on International Beaver Day ...
• And our animal of the month is this mink - who is just doin' what he's gotta do to survive!