The Hare Masks come in natural colors and have ears. They have been washed but are not soft-tanned. They are 8.5" (21.5 cm) from the ears to the bottom of the mask. The #1 masks from England are gorgeous.
Hare are not an endangered species and are not subject to CITES controls. A U.S. Fish & Wildlife export permit is required for all shipments outside of the United States.
We are the rabbit skin experts! We have been importing rabbit skins since 1996 and receive frequent shipments from overseas. According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, we are one of the largest importers of tanned rabbit skins in the United States. We sell to distributors, craft supply companies, gift shops, trading posts, clipper sharpening firms, manufacturers, designers, and crafts people.
We have dealt with a number of tanneries in 8 countries and now work closely with a tannery that is more concerned with quality than simply volume. The rabbit skins from this tannery are washed three times instead of two as is common at most tanneries and are alum tanned instead of using the more conventional chrome tanning process. This special preparation makes the rabbit skins softer and more supple to work with. The regular rabbit skins (not the females) tend to have thinner skin than some skins from eastern Europe. The thinner skins are easier to work with when sewing garments.
We are also interested in growing our business and know that if we ship you what you expect, you will re-order from us. We know what is in the market and are appalled at what some people charge for low quality rabbit skins. Compare our rabbit skins to those of others. We think you will be surprised.
A Note On Odor
Please note that the dyed rabbits skins do have a chemical odor as a result of
being dyed. They may also have a mothball odor as well because we have
to prevent bugs from getting into the rabbit skins. You can reduce this odor by
either airing the rabbit skins out or by tumbling the rabbit skins in a dryer with a dryer
sheet on very low heat for no more than five minutes. Any more than this
will shrink the rabbit skins and you will no longer have the option to
return them if unsatisfied. If you're worried that the rabbits skins
may leave an odor in your dryer, we suggest you use a public laundromat.
Where Do the Rabbit Skins Come From?
In many parts of Europe and Latin America, the people there eat rabbits
the way we eat chickens in North America. The skins are a by-product of
the food-processing industry. The rabbits are raised for meat, not for
their skins.
International Shipping
The domesticated rabbit skins can be exported without obtaining an export permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Transit
times by air mail are usually 3-10 business days by regular air mail,
not including customs delays. If the shipment is sent by surface (sea),
the transit time jumps to 4-6 weeks.