Why We Use Beaver Fur

History and Heritage

Indigenous peoples in the North have relied on beaver fur from their very beginnings. Fur has always been the way we survived in a harsh environment. We use that knowledge when making our reusable warmers designed to last for more than 10 years.

Beavers

Beavers are aquatic animals who thrive in and around water. Their thick fur protects them in wet, freezing conditions. They do not hibernate and spend their winters in the cold water, swimming under the ice.

Aurora Heat warmers use that natural insulating ability to help hold the warmth your body already creates. The dense underfur traps warm air close to the body, providing effective natural insulation with no batteries, no chemicals, and no disposable heat source.

Unlike single-use heat packs, our warmers can be used again and again, season after season.

Where does our beaver fur come from?

Aurora Heat warmers are made with wild Canadian beaver fur sourced through Canada's regulated fur-supply system. The legally harvested beaver fur is governed by provincial and territorial laws. Aurora Heat sources beaver fur from a fur dresser/tannery. They source their fur from Fur Auction Houses and directly from fur trappers.

In the Northwest Territories, trapping is regulated by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, and trappers must meet applicable licensing and regulatory requirements.

Are beavers endangered?

Beavers are found in most areas throughout the boreal forest of Canada that stretches from Alaska to Newfoundland. They reproduce in litters, creating abundance in their populations.

They are not endangered and they are not common in densely human populated areas. They need open space with free access to water.

The North American beaver used in Aurora Heat products is Castor canadensis, a widespread and healthy species.

Wildlife populations vary by region, and beaver harvesting is managed under the laws and conditions of each province or territory.

Why are beavers harvested?

People harvest beavers for several reasons, including:

food, fur, and income
the continuation of Indigenous and land-based harvesting practices
wildlife and habitat management
reducing conflicts caused by flooding, blocked drainage systems, and damage to roads or property

Beavers play an important role in the ecosystems they are a part of. Their dams create wetlands and habitat for many other species. They are important engineers in areas of drought and help with recovery in areas of wildfire.

In some locations, unfortunately, humans and beaver activity collide, with the beavers causing inconvenient floods on roads, trails, agricultural land, and infrastructure. Whether harvesting is appropriate depends on local populations, habitat conditions, and wildlife-management decisions. Throughout the boreal forest, beavers are abundant with no human populations, and endless waterways, including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers.

The fur used by Aurora Heat comes from legal Canadian harvesting and enters a regulated supply system.

How does regulated harvesting support wildlife management?

Wildlife management is not simply about increasing or decreasing the number of animals. It involves understanding local populations, habitat, ecological conditions, and human-wildlife relationships.

Provincial and territorial governments are primarily responsible for managing furbearing species in Canada. Harvesters are valued partners and contribute practical knowledge of the changes or health of the land from areas which wildlife managers cannot regularly access.

Regulation can include:

licensing requirements
designated harvesting areas
seasons and other regional conditions
approved trapping methods
rules intended to protect wildlife and reduce the capture of non-target species

These systems are similar across Canada and responsible sourcing requires legal harvesting, appropriate oversight, and supply-chain information.

Why fur?

Beaver fur is renewable, biodegradable, and exceptionally durable when properly cared for. By making warmers that can be reused for more than 10 years, Aurora Heat gives lasting purpose to a natural material entering the Canadian fur supply.

We use the fur because it works, it lasts, and using a natural material is far better than replacing it with plastic, chemical, or single-use alternatives.

How does Aurora Heat respect the animal?

Respect starts with how much value we place on the material.

In our workshop in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, each pelt is carefully assessed and cut to make the best possible use of its natural shape and qualities. We make a range of products and sizes so that smaller sections of fur can also be used. This reduces waste and creates meaningful work for Indigenous women in our community.

Our approach includes:

sourcing legally harvested wild Canadian beaver fur
Using only wild fur
using the material thoughtfully and as fully as possible
making durable products intended for long-term use
creating multiple products and sizes to use more of each pelt
minimizing production waste wherever possible
treating beaver fur as the valuable natural material it is

Our use of beaver fur is shaped by Northern experience and Indigenous knowledge from the beginning of time.

A natural material made to last

Aurora Heat warmers do not generate heat. They hold the warmth your body already creates.

Beaver fur has offered warmth in cold northern environments for a very long time. We carry that knowledge forward through natural, reusable warmers handcrafted in northern Canada and made to last through many winters.

Have a question?

We welcome questions about our fur, sourcing, and production practices.

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