Hi folks, after some fast advice if anyone can help,
Have just shot a Grey Squirrel (UK) and this was only an hour ago, I have not done any taxidermy yet, ( I am enrolled on a basic course which does not start until August this year.)
What steps should I take to deal with my squirrel until I have a better understanding of what to do with her?
At the moment she is lying belly down on a wad of newspaper with all paws outstreched, in the fridge. there are pellet holes in the stomach/chest area, but none on the head or back as far as i can tell.
I am happy to skin the squirrel as far as i can, which would probably mean cutting via the belly and then working my way down the legs (not by cutting the skin) and as far up the neck to the skull base as i can get, I would have to cut the legs (not the skin)at the 'ankles' and the head off at the skull base, as I dont really know what to do there yet.
Will the tail just pull free with a little persuasion?
Is there an order in which it is easier to do the skinning, or any tips at all?
How should I prepare the not wholly skinned squirrel for the freezer. As at this stage, until I know better, I just want to preserve what I have got.
I have no chemicals or tanning agents or anything to hand, just salt and a freezer and a sharp knife, but I assume no salting if freezing is involved.
The sqirrel will most likely end up as a practice piece for me to work on for my course, due to the pellet holes I assume a diarama of it coming down a tree would be best (if this helps with any skinning advice given)
Many thanks
Gerry
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wait until you get in your supplies then skin it and preserve it.
to keep it until you get them just put it in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer. After skinning I like to keep the body to use for a reference while I am mounting.Good Luck, Lisa
http://www.amystaxidermy.com/
Check out my site to see step by step pictures of skinning.. I demonstrate skinning using the "ventral" (up the belly) cut, but I use the "dorsal" (straight down the back) incision for most squirrels. Use whatever incision you feel comfortable with. The ventral cut sometimes makes the squirrel a little harder to get on the form, but that really depends on what position it's in.
Right after you skin the squirrel, just put the skin in the freezer. There's no need to salt it if you're putting it in the freezer.
As far as tanning, I have written a page about that on my site as well.
Hope this helps (:
Amy