CONSUMERS who shy away from buying woollen clothes because sheep ranchers kill wildlife to protect their flocks could soon have another option: clothes made from 鈥減redator-friendly鈥� wool. Predator Friendly, a company in Big Timber, Montana, was created to help market wool from ranches that do not kill the coyotes, mountain lions and bears that prey on sheep and lambs.
Predator Friendly鈥檚 director, Dude Tyler, says he appreciates that predators cause problems. Last year, coyotes killed sheep worth an estimated $1.3 million in Montana. But Tyler argues that killing predators is not the only way to protect flocks. Last year, 7430 coyotes were trapped in Montana. And keeping sheep-guarding dogs, llamas and burros (donkeys) with the flock can deter predators.
Last year, Predator Friendly bought 900 kilograms of wool from ranchers who certified that they had not killed any predators. Most was bought by a designer whose coats, waistcoats, mittens and handbags will go on sale this summer.
Advertisement
At an extra $2 per kilogram, the predator-friendly wool does not come cheap. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e finding there鈥檚 a significant market niche,鈥� says Tyler.