Perform Salt Cure Taxidermy
Template:CopyeditbotTaxidermy is traditionally seen as a difficult and tedious art that takes years to perfect. However, by using simple methods of dehydration and preservation even an amateur can create simple taxidermy crafts using the salt bath process. Body parts containing little fat and tissue such as tails, feet, and paws can be preserved and altered to create neat trinkets such as necklaces, antenna toppers, hood ornaments, or anything that the imagination spawns.
Contents
Steps
- Select a specimen. Almost any animal's paws, feet, or tails can be used whether it be a small creature such as a squirrel, or a larger animal such as a deer. Specimens can be collected from various sources. One primary collection method is simply to hunt the prey, but if you don't want to take the time to stalk, shoot, and clean the animal road kill can provide excellent samples. Keep in mind some US states require the purchase of a trapping license to retrieve road kill.
- Find a container large enough to hold the sample. Be sure that the container can be filled with salt and will not be needed for 6-8 weeks.
- Fill the bottom of the container with iodized salt. A thin layer on the bottom should suffice.
- Clean and trim the sample. Often when cutting off a tail or paw there may be a little meat or refuse near the cut area. Trim this off and pour salt over the entire cut area. This is where most of the moisture will leave and where you will mount key rings etc.
- Place the sample in the salt bath and cover completely with iodized salt. The dehydration process should take about 6 weeks depending on the size of the sample.
- Process the sample. Once the specimen is completely cured out you can begin turning it into whatever you desire. For most small crafts such as key chains, necklaces, and antenna toppers you might consider covering the cut end of the specimen with a hardening polymer such as liquid steel and then sanding it once it is dry, drilling a hole through the polymer and the bone, and ultimately inserting a key ring, leather strap, etc.
Tips
- In 6 weeks check the sample and see if it is stiff and dry. The salt around it may become clumpy from the absorbed moisture. Feel all along the sample. You should be able to feel the bones beneath the skin all along the sample. If you don't feel that the sample is finished curing out place it back in the salt bath and repeat the process in another 2 weeks.
- When collecting tails, etc. from roadkill keep in mind that winter is the best time because decomposition slows in cold weather. Also, dead animals can carry bacteria and germs so extra precaution should be taken when retrieving the specimen. Dip the sample in rubbing alcohol before working with it.
- Often specimens may have a faint odor after coming out of the salt. To alleviate this, place the sample in potpourri, or spray with strong perfume to cover over any odor. You might also consider dipping the sample in rubbing alcohol to eliminate any possible germs. Be sure to dry off immediately afterwards.
Warnings
- When retrieving samples from roadkill be extra cautious about traffic. It is safer to pull the animal to the side of the road and then take your time in cutting off the tail, paw, etc. The best and safest tool to use in cutting off the sample is pruning shears, which make a straight clean cut.
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