Wild boar fur is a versatile material in fly tying, utilized for a range of purposes. Its applications include creating tails and legs for various flies such as shrimp, nymphs, and dry flies. The fur’s thick undercoat is ideal for making chunky dubbings, similar to seal fur. The reddish-brown guard hairs are often used for feelers in shrimp patterns and the Francis fly. Wild boar hair can also be soaked or wrapped to form bodies for midges, and it provides flotation, maintaining flexibility even after a fish takes the fly.
European wild boar fur, in particular, is valued for its use in Atlantic salmon fly patterns, with the guard hairs commonly imitating feelers in shrimp patterns.
Beavers, part of the genus Castor, are large, semi-aquatic rodents native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are two species: the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) and the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). Beavers are the second-largest rodents after capybaras, with adults weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb). They have stout bodies, large heads, chisel-like incisors, and brown or gray fur. Their front feet are hand-like, their back feet are webbed, and their tails are flat and scaly.
Beavers are found in freshwater habitats like rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, where they feed on tree bark, aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges. Their fur, which has between 12,000 and 23,000 hairs per square centimeter (77,000 to 148,000 hairs per square inch), helps keep them warm, aids in buoyancy, and protects against predators. The guard hairs are typically reddish-brown and 5 to 6 cm (2.0 to 2.4 inches) long, while the underfur is dark gray and 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.18 inches) long. Beavers molt annually in the summer.
Wild boar fur varies in size and weight depending on environmental factors. In Europe, males typically average 75 to 100 kg (165 to 220 lb) and 75 to 80 cm (30 to 31 inches) in shoulder height, while females average 60 to 80 kg (130 to 180 lb) and 70 cm (28 inches) in shoulder height. In Mediterranean regions, males can weigh as little as 50 kg (110 lb), while in Eastern Europe, they can average 110 to 130 kg (240 to 290 lb). In Northeastern Asia, some males reach up to 270 kg (600 lb) and can measure 110 to 118 cm (43 to 46 inches) in shoulder height. However, such large specimens are rare today due to past overhunting.
The wild boar’s winter coat features long, coarse bristles overlaid with short, brown downy fur. The bristles vary in length across the body, with the longest along the back. Coat color is variable and can range from white to black, with variations based on age and region. Piglets typically have light brown or rusty-brown fur with pale bands.
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