My grandmother passed down a polar bear rug to me that has been stored for a long time. this thing's over 60 years old. it seems to be in pretty good shape, no fur coming lose or anything except one tooth lose and the tongue is loose. it's really musty and dingy though (my wife started sneezing from it as soon as we unpacked it). what's the best way to clean it? is it best to take it to someone like a taxidermist to clean it, or some type of professional cleaner, or do it myself with woolite? what's the best way to maintain the skin? should i take off the felt to assess it?
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Andy even though its old it still has value.Do not try to clean it or have someone who does not do this for a living touch it.Your best bet is to first check with the wife to make sure shes ok with it in your house.Next take it to a pro and let him or her look at it and give you a price to restore the mount.You could check on here to see whos in your city and set up a meeting.Again these rugs run from a couple of hundred to thousands depending on size so its worth the time.
Andy:if you call me at (705)476-0483 I can save you alot of problems and maybe alot of money.
Laurier
My personal opinion is that the killing of animals (including fisher cats) is cruel and unruly. The death of innocent animals for silly things like a fur coat, or a hairy wall, or gloves to milk your cows, is unneeded. I mean, it's only for pure sport....so killing something is fun? Why don't you take up baseball, or football? I'm ten and already know a lesson about life that you don't. I know that chances are, you are all from the country and aren't used to people standing up for the rights of animals, but we all have to stop and see what's going on in the world sometime. I try not to be ignorant to the opinions of others, which is why I'm asking that you try too. My name is Cynthia, and here is my opinion. All I ask is you try not to be ignorant to MY opinion, as I try not to be to yours.
Your to snart assed to be 10 and until you leave and name and email your opinion does not count.
If Cynthia or who ever she is, is 10yrs. old. Then I just fell off the turnip truck, and I'm only 14yrs. old. Sorry sweetheart, but your best bet is to give this up and go and try and bother another forum. Because truthfully....Your waisting your time with all your B.S. and garbage here. You will not change anyone's mind here.
Coyote
Hey Cynthia when was the last time you ate a happy meal at Mc Donalds those come from aninmals to you know, and I garuntee you have at least one pair of shoes with a leather product in them. Do you know what would happen if we never hunted, all kinds of animals would starve or even worse get rabies that makes the chance of your little puppy or kitty becoming rabid and dying a horrible death quite large. My word to everybody who bothers us, Be glad there are taxidermists otherwise beautiful animals would rot and not be remembered, what we can all do is preserve their beauty so they can be remembered.
Let me say that when you see a posting like Cynthia's
DO NOT RESPOND to her she will not stop.
Cynthia, your argument defeats itself. if you're so wise that you've learned to respect others' opinions, then why are you here trying to persuade us to give up a legal, environmentally healthy, traditional pursuit? maybe because your opinion is the only one that needs to be respected? it's sad you have to pretend to be 10 to try to give your argument more merit. doesn't work. also, how about waiting til you're 20 to decide how wise you were at age 10, and 40 til you decide how wise you were at 20, etc.
by the way, how much skin goes into the millions of sports balls produced each year for recreation compared to the amount used in the relatively rare hobby of taxidermy? are you that wise?
...or are you just interested in obtaining the rug? (Sorry to be skeptical). i'm not interested in parting with it if that is your interest. otherwise i am very grateful for any advice you have.