VOA慢速英语：加拿大鹅带火土狼皮毛

Winter Coats Drive High Demand for Coyote Fur

加拿大鹅带火土狼皮毛

The popularity of winter clothing made with animal hair has greatly increased the demand for coyote fur. Coyotes are wild animals that are related to dogs and wolves. They are found in North America.

用动物皮毛制成的冬季服装的普及大大提高了对土狼皮毛的需求。土狼是一种跟狗和狼有关的野生动物，它们常见于北美。

Many people living in cold-weather places around the world wear coats designed with furry edges that circle the head and neck.

世界各地很多生活在严寒地区的人们都穿着毛领外套。

Many clothing companies use coyote fur from the United States to create these kinds of coats. Coyote fur is a favored choice because it is naturally full, soft and has beautiful colors.

许多服装公司都使用来自美国的土狼皮毛来生产这种类型的外套。土狼皮毛是一种理想的选择，因为它天然饱满、柔软并且色彩艳丽。

A good coyote from the western United States is highly valued and can sell for at least $100. One top price at a recent sale in Colorado reached $170. That was up 40 percent from four years ago.

一头优质的美国西部土狼很值钱，可以卖到至少100美元。最近在科罗拉多州销售的最高价格达到了170美元，比4年前上涨了40%。

John Hughes is a longtime buyer at J and M Furs in Roundup, Montana. He spoke to the Associated Press about the current demand for fur. "Coyotes are hot," he said. "And it's all due to the trim trade."

约翰·修斯(John Hughes)是蒙大拿州朗达普镇J&M皮毛公司的一位长期买家。他就当前的皮毛需求接受了美联社的采访。他说：“土狼(皮毛)很火，而这一切要归功关于服饰贸易。”

The best time for trapping coyotes is in late fall and early winter, when coyote coats are at their fullest. But a lot of the selling happens in late winter. Much of the fur is sold at big auction houses in Canada. Local sales are also held in areas near where the animals are caught.

捕获土狼的最佳时机是秋末和初冬，这时候的土狼皮毛最为充实。但是很多销售都发生在冬末。大部分皮毛都在加拿大的拍卖行出售，在捕获土狼的周边地区也会举办当地的销售会。”

One such auction was recently held in the small town of Herkimer, New York. People gathered in a local community center there to take part in the auction. Tables inside were filled with hundreds of furs from coyotes and other animals. The selection included muskrats, beavers, mink, fox, otters and bobcats.

最近在纽约州的赫基蒙镇就举办了这样一场拍卖会。人们聚在当地的社区中心参加拍卖，社区中心里面的桌子上摆满了数百件来自土狼等动物的皮毛。这些动物还包括麝鼠、海狸、水貂、狐狸、水獭和山猫。

Fur experts say the increase in demand for coyote fur started with coats made by Canadian clothing company Canada Goose. The coats are recognizable by the company's official design that shows the Arctic Circle.

皮毛专家表示，土狼皮毛需求提升始于加拿大鹅这家加拿大服装公司生产的外套。这些外套可以通过该公司的官方标志识别出来，其标志就是北极圈。

Canada Goose coats saw a big jump in sales in 2013. It happened after American model Kate Upton wore one of the company's coats over her swimsuit in a photo that appeared in the U.S. magazine Sports Illustrated. Over the years, more famous people and their fans have also chose to wear the fur-lined coats. Canada Goose coats can now sell for up to $1,000.

加拿大鹅外套在2013年销量大增。这件事发生在美国模特凯特·厄普顿(Kate Upton)在泳衣外穿着该公司外套的照片登上美国“体育画报”(Sports Illustrated)之后。多年来，更多名人和他们的粉丝也选择这样穿着皮毛衬里的外套。加拿大鹅外套现在可以卖到1000美元。

Mark Downey heads Canada's Fur Harvesters Auction company in North Bay, Ontario. "Canada Goose is always the name that people relate to," he told the AP. "But there are so many other brands that make similar coats."

马克·唐尼(Mark Downey)是加拿大安大略省北湾皮毛拍卖公司的负责人。他对美联社表示：“加拿大鹅是经常跟人们联系到一起的名字，但是还有很多品牌生产类似的外套。”

Downey said that most of these kinds of coats include coyote trim around the neck of the coat. Downey predicts the large demand for coyote fur will continue.

唐尼表示，大多数这类外套都有土狼毛领。唐尼预计土狼皮毛的大量需求还会持续下去。

Another seller is North American Fur Auctions, based in Toronto, Canada. In a statement published on its website in November, the company said the coyote trim business "continues to be in full fashion, with Canada Goose being the major taker."

另一位卖家是加拿大多伦多的北美皮毛拍卖公司。该公司去年11月份在其官网发布的一份声明中表示，土狼毛领生意“仍然很时兴，加拿大鹅是主要买家。”

The hot market for coyotes comes as trappers deal with recent economic downturns in both China and Russia. They also face competition from people raising animals for fur. In addition, animal rights activists call the trapping process cruel.

土狼皮毛市场火爆之际，捕兽人要应对中俄的经济下滑，他们还面临人工饲养动物提取皮毛的人们的竞争。此外，动物权利活动分子称这种捕兽过程很残酷。

I'm Bryan Lynn.

布莱恩·林恩报道。