If I'm not mistaken it was the Russians who decimated the Pacific sea-otter population, not FN.
Personally, I have a great affinity for the weasel-family; I used to breed Ferrets (actually I just watched).
The Sea Otter is the largest member of the family (can top 125/lbs) which includes: Otters (River & Sea), Wolverines, Badgers, Skunks, Fishers, Martens, Minks, Ferrets (3-species), and Weasels (3-species).
Members of the Weasel family share two distinct attributes which separate them from all other mammals:
- all have an anal scent-gland which can be used for defensive purposes as well as territory marking (most pronounced in the Skunk).
- all have extremely large jaw musculature which give these critters (pound for pound) one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom.
Personally, as I watched the FN's latest 'Otter-hunt' initiative unfold on the 6-o'clock NEWS, I found it rather confusing. It was only a few days ago they were on the tube joining the Bear-huggers demanding an end to bear-hunting in BC. There are not now and have never been ANY conservation issues with bears in BC, yet our wonderful Sea-Otters which have only recently clawed their way back from near extinction suddenly qualify once again as fodder for FN ceremonial purposes?
So wearing Otter pelts is suddenly en-vogue while bear-skins don't cut it any more?