The little white weasel I attempted to mount is in the trash can now.It arrived in fine condition still cold with no slippage and skinned well.When I thawed it out to work on it, all the hair slipped off the belly and back and the form I ordered was too big even after shaving over half off.what a disaster, 40.00 down pot.I hate doing mammals, I will stick to my birds.
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You'll make more money on the birds anyway..If you can get some work from another taxidermist...Yes stick to the birds,It Is a wonderful part of taxidermy that hasn't changed much over the years.Mounting small animals is a harder more difficult part of taxidermy?
Why are you giving up so easy. Don't feel discouraged because of one bad mount. Stick with it. Everything take practice in this field. Read up on doing small animals, They're not the easiest to start out with. Try a red fox, That'll give you hugh headaches. The hair on a fox will slip looking at it. Get a video or two on carcass casting, and learn to reproduce your own bodies. I really hate to hear someone giving up because of one or two bad situations. Stick with it you'll be glad you did in the long run.
I feel your pain, Bonnie. Slippage happened to me too many times when I first started mammals. When the 10th squirrel slipped, I was just about ready to give up. It still happens occassionally. But there is always a valid reason for it.. It probably would have been best for you to skin it and dry preserve (I'm assuming that's what you were using) or salted as soon as you got it. The specimen was already in a fragile state from thawing out (just because it's cool doesn't mean it's ok), so re-freezing and re-thawing it just left more time for bacteria to grow. It takes a while for something to re-freeze, you know. Carnivores are very susceptible to slippage because of their carnivorous diet. When they eat and groom themselves, bacteria from the dead stuff they've been eating gets all over the fur. Once the animal is dead, that bacteria goes right to work.
Well, I know this information isn't helping you NOW, but perhaps it will help you out in the future. Just remember, avoid having the skin in a raw state for very long. The sooner you salt or DP the better, since that will stop much of the bacteria.
But don't give up! A weasel is a tough critter to try if you don't have much mammal experience. Try a raccoon or a squirrel; they are much easier. Ditto what coyote said about fox -- what headaches! They're almost worse than antelope.. Lol
Amy Ritchie
Yes I have done fox, funny but I had no trouble with them I find them to be gorgeous when in prime.The weasel got thawed out too long between steps, I forgot it only takes it 30 min. to thaw and left it out too long.I will try again