Hi all. I don't know anything about taxidermy, just have a question about getting rid of the "dead" smell on a squirrel's tail. I make dog motivator toys (not "chew toys") and have had several requests for a "squirrel tail on a stick". I have some local boys who can supply me with tails, I intend to staple the ends of the tails to a 8" piece of broomstick. Only problem: the tail the boys gave me the other day STANK. Real bad, especially at the end where it was cut off the animal.
Can you guys give me any tips on how to "de-stink" and/or disinfect/deodorize the tails?
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Thats your first step. then simply pack it with salt.
Could be the meat on the tail bone rotting.
Did you think that a tail cut off a squirrel was not going to stink? You have to remove the tail bone completety either by pulling it out, or splittin it and then removing. Then the tail has to either be tanned if it is to last as a chew ttoy, or salted to get it hard and lock the hairs in place.
>>Did you think that a tail cut off a
>>squirrel was not going to stink?
I had no idea.
So I have to split the stinky tails and take the tailbones out? Sounds pretty gross. Then I'll be left with a just the skin and tail fur...will this be strong enough to handle a small dog (jack russel) biting and tugging on it, or will it just fall apart under that kind of abuse?
It they already stink you might as well throw them away. the hair will most likely fall out.
Okay, well I've already thrown out the stinky one. My question is how to handle the fresh ones the boys will be giving me.
And I really need to know if the de-boned tail will even hold up to the biting/tugging they'll get from the dogs. Again, these won't be "chew toys", they will be tug/motivators for working dogs.
It's dead tissue. Just like your chew bone. It's understandable you don't know a lot about taxidermy, but what about biology. Things die, rot, and disintegrate.
>It's dead tissue. Just like your chew bone.
Huh? What "chew bone"? I specifically stated that I am making dog motivators, not chew toys. FYI, I am a trainer of search and rescue dogs. Y'know, those dogs and handlers who risk their lives saving others? Nice of you to be so helpful.
>It's understandable you don't know a lot about taxidermy, but what
>about biology. Things die, rot, and disintegrate.
Whatever, bubba.
Ok, S. Black before a big war starts here, and just being funny, if I get lost in the mountains and need to be rescued I don't think a Jack russel terrier is going to get the job done, but if he does I will get him all the squirrel tails he wants.
What you need to do is pull out the bone and meat from the tail skin so you have a tube. One this is removed, fill the tube with salt and or borax into the skin. Then I would stick something in there to hold the natural shape, approximately the same shape and size of the tail bone and meat that was removed. Allow to dry for a day or two, remove the object that was holding the shape, then fill with a latex caulk. Allow this to dry and then you should have a semi preserved, semi strong enticer toy.
Dan Moon - Grasshoper
Hello,
Tell those local yokel boys out there that when they skin their eatin' squirrels, to "strip the tail" using pliers. The boyz [who don't sound the brightest] will take the ass end of the squirrel, place the pliers on the tail bone right next to the butt, and then they just PULL the tail bone out while grasping the tail skin. It does often break the tails, but it does also often work, unlike them just chopping off the tail "bone in" like you're going to be tying flies.
That said, you know your Jack Russels better than we do. If you think they are going to bite gently (I've never met a terrier with a soft mouth!) then sure, use squirrel tails. Squirrel tails are some of the more delicate things to try, kind of like trying out jumbo ermine tails.
Otherwise, those tanned rabbit skins you can get from Tandy Leather Corp. (tandyleather.com ? ) ought to work MUCH better, as they are already tanned. If you're looking for cheap, disposable, real fur, that's your best option.
Regardless, if you DO choose to use squirrel tails, use a tan which will not harm the dogs. i.e. do NOT use the alum "tanning" method. Alum is poisonous and it IS water soluble, which means it's also dog-spit soluble. You may wish to use a Bark Tan or a Vegetable Tan, both of which are available as kits from Van Dyke's (click the words).
Another alternative is to ask me for fur scraps from my garments as I produce, restyle, and recycle them. I sell them according to quality, species, and size. I've got everything here, and some best sellers are craft gray fox, craft raccoon, craft muskrat, and craft coyote.
The last alternative is to hunt up some squirrels, chop off their tails, and then have your local fur processor remove the tailbones for you. Storing the tails in the deep freeze before your appointment will be necessary, and the processor will charge you a fee. BUT you will get results.
By the way Grasshopper, all dogs are easily motivated, and Jack Russels have very high prey drive - so of course a fur motivator toy would be great for them. Jack Russels aren't the most trainable creatures either, they ARE good listeners but they can't touch a Malinois. While JR's may not be SAR dogs in the traditional "St. Bernard with flask" sense, they can do some neat dog-stuff like Earthdog, and they can lend a healing touch to ill people in hospitals or other kinda silly little dog tasks (like picking up stuff for klutzes).
Personally I'd say that a JR can be motivated with just about anything small and furry, so if the squirrels are a dumb idea, use [furbearer] body panel strips. At least those will hold up and when you buy them, you know they're tanned.
Have a great day, from a non-small-dog fancier and fur processor. =)
I showed this to two of my kids, both pre-teens. They BOTH asked what the guys problem was? They knew that he said NO CHEW TOYS, but that guys here were inferring that his so called motivational squirrel tail was sure as hell going to BECOME a chew toy real soon! Also they were well aware of the tail bone, and asked me if that was his problem. So, it seems that we have a person who asks questions but doesnt really want answers. Not before his sarcasm, anyway. I wonder where these people come from...
Thanks.
JRTs as SAR dogs? No, we use other breeds for that. Here's a clue: dog trainers train a variety of dogs for a variety of purposes.
Anyway, I appreciate all the advice, guys.
I think our best bet is to either have the hunters prepare the tails for us, or as the other fellow said, maybe buy already-prepared skins/tails.
Thanks for the help,
EXXXXCUSE ME! You left out the Groenedael and Tervuren! LOL