Thursday, January 08, 2004

Virginia Hunting Statistics

For those that are interested, a good historical listing of Virginia trapping stastics is available at http://www.bobpickett.org/FurFileVA.htm, complete with red fox, Gray fox, possum, and raccoon trapping takes.
 
Note that in the last year that data is presenteed (2000), trappers officially took 30,000 fox (red and Gray) and over 83,000 raccoon.  Most fox is now ranched, and most raccoon is shipped to Germany where it is cut down and sold as "imitation mink".
 
Note that these trapping statistics do not have much to due with actual species populations in the state (other than to suggest they are healthy), as much as they do with the price of pelts.
 
A bit of regional wildife trivia: We SHOOT as many deer every year in the state of Virginia as actually reside in the state of Maryland.
 
The bobcat numbers for Virginia are impressive, as is the rapid growth in coyote numbers in recent years.
 
Bear are apparently doing very well.
 
 
 
 

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