My Possum Fur Hat

There was a very cold wind today. I was glad of a warm hat.

My hat was made for me by my friend Catherine, wife of Beansprout. Possums don't come in that colour, the pelt was bleached.

Possums are cute marsupials, natives of Australia. There are some 30 million of them here in New Zealand, where they are destroying our native forests, endangering our native birds and spreading disease among farming livestock.

My friends live in a World Heritage Park. Trapping possums and making hats etc. from factory processed pelts are among their activities.

The fur, both as skins and as fibre is used commercially for making warm clothing. It is extremely fine and soft. Blended with wool it makes wonderfully cosy pullovers, underwear, socks etc.