The first major wild fur auction of the season is underway in Toronto and there are expectations the return for pelts will be even higher than last year’s strong showing.
Saskatchewan Environment tracks annually the number of pelts marketed by Saskatchewan trappers and the prices they obtain.
Provincial fur specialist Mike Gollop says current numbers show northern trappers are seeing a price increase in pelts this year.
“If I look at the trends over the past number of years I am actually seeing peak prices in a number of species in the north such as beaver, muskrat, fisher and marten,” he says. “So it’s not just one single species that is trending upwards, it is pretty much across the board.”
Two years ago, northern Saskatchewan trappers fetched a little over $800,000 for their pelts.
Last year, it was $1.8 million.