Chicago IL: The current recession is devastating to beaver entrepreneurs. Each year the economic downturn lasts, the business smells a little worse. There was a similar slide into a deep hole after the stock market crash of 1987.
Mr. Hefner a lean Mid-Westerner, who is in the beaver trade confides, "the only thing I know is chasing beavers. 50 years ago, when I started chasing beavers, they would fetch $100, but last year, prices fell to about $25 a beaver."
Quantity has not changed only quality and lack of demand. Their size has also decreased "here look at this small one" he said. Then adding, "it was my third of the day, but at my age I have to let some frisky ones go. We have also seen the quality of beavers go down, as I had to give one mouth to beaver resuscitation, lickity-split, just recently."
Sighing he continued, "nobody's buying right now, not even the French. There was a time when American beavers were exported for their warm silkiness, but today they exhibit a waxed appearance. Beaver sales in the US have dived to their lowest ebb, but could resurface if more people knew the joys of eating beaver. To increase demand we need to think outside the box."
