novice w dead rattlesnake - easy way to get bones?

[shastasother]

Hi, A friend knows I like bones and have a few purchased skulls. She heard about someone who killed a small rattlesnake and brought me the body. The people had removed the head and buried it b/c of the venom, but I might be able to get that too.

Anyway, I would like to attempt to harvest the bones. This is a very small snake. I thought I would try to use them in jewelry somehow. I don't want to outlay much b/c I am not sure what I will get out of it (small size, not sure what I am going to do with them, may not be usable).

Anyone have suggestions? I am going to read more here, but thought I would post now b/c he was killed 36 hours ago and has already been hit with ants and other bugs.

I am in AZ. Can I just leave it out in the heat (covered with a flower pot so animals don't get him)? I told you - novice!

[Alicia L]

I think you should probably throw the hawk wing away, but I am pretty new myself.  I am sure someone else with more knowledge can tell you for sure.  It may be illegal to possess...just a friendly heads up.

[Sea Wolf]

  Don't be showing your hawk wing to anyone and talking about it or you will have Fed agents on your doorstep. I know, you didn't kill it and it's a stupid law, but you can not take, touch or have in your possession any hawk, owl or predatory bird remains from any native species. It's a Federal offense.

[Matt_S]

How was the snake killed?  There will probably be a bunch of broken bones and imagine the head isn't in that great of shape either.

I was tempted on the hawk thing a couple weeks ago.  I found a nice one dead out in the woods a while back that was in great shape.  I instantly thought about taking it but didn't want to risk it.  I am sure its still laying out there.

[shastasother]

The person whacked the rattler in the middle of the body with something. He looks to be about 1.5', head and rattle gone, but he has a good bit on either side of the blow that I thought would yield a handful of bones. Any advice on how to extract and clean is appreciated.

I will look into laws on the other matter. And look at what I actually have. Thanks for the info.

[Ravenson]

I have never done it but My first guess would be you are going to want to use Maceration to clean the bones.  There is a great Tutorial on it 3 pages back on the tutorials section.

Jeff
 

[shastasother]

Thanks. Looked at the tutorial. I think I am going to try it.

[Ravenson]

glade to be of help.  Let us know how it comes out.

Jeff

[gator dun]

before you macerate .  if you run a small wire down through the spine through where the spinal cord is , and tie it off , it'll really help keep the vertabrae in line and in order/ together  during the cleaning.