Taxidermy Care

Collecting taxidermy can be exciting and much simpler than looking after a live animal or pet, but there is still some care involved. Here are a few quick tips to keep your mounts looking showroom-ready:

• Dust pieces at least once month to avoid any dirt and oil buildup. Feather dusters are great for all mounts, but you could also use a soft paintbrush, or a wad of cotton balls.

• To clean fur more deeply on larger mounts, use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment, working gently in the natural direction of the fur OR spray a bit of Windex on a paper towel (never directly on the mount) and wipe clean. Use a blow dryer on a low setting to dry.

• Keep mounts out of direct sunlight; sun can easily fade fur and feathers, so take care when selecting a display space. Avoid direct heat sources like furnace vents and fireplaces like the plague, as they can cause skin cracking and drying.

• If white fur shows signs of fading or discoloration, bleaches like Basic White (found at beauty supply stores) can be used to brighten them.

• Hazy or dirty eyes can be cleaned with glass cleaner and a Q-Tip. You can also use a paintbrush to apply a thin layer of clear topcoat (available at hobby and artist supply stores) to protect them.

• Though this one is usually obvious, keep mounts out of reach of pets and small children, just in case they think they’ve found a new toy…