I found a small weasel in my barn. It was(and still is) frozen. I would like to get the skeleton out of it, but I'm not exactly sure how. It is only about 5-7 inches long so it is small and I am scared I'm going to wreck the bones. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
I'll start of by saying I've never done this before, however from what I've heard around here you usually use beetles to clean flesh off a skeleton like that. I would search the archives for it. Good Luck
SeaBass
first you want to thaw it out.second, take a scalpol or sharp knife and cut from left back leg to right back leg(be carful)pull the skin up as you go.then cut from left front leg to right front leg.then cut down the middle.when you make the cuts, make sure you only cut the fasha(membrane between the skin and meat) below the fur or you will cut into the gut cavity(yuk)once you cut and skin the legs it will be easy to pull the skin down to the skull.when you have done that its time to gut the carcas and take of as much meat as you can.you should only use the beetles when 90-95% of the meat is off.there is a huge amount of info and methods of cleaning skeletons ,i wish you luck,lol.but with all the mink i have done,i boiled it(with all the meat on-NO guts)with some soda ash.the bones will be in many pieces but it will be clean.BEWARE NOT TO CUT THE GLANDS BY ITS TAIL.VERY BAD,TRUST ME I LEARNED THE HARD WAY.
You could just place the gutted carcass in a bucket of water, placed in a warm position, for a few weeks and let the bacteria do it.
Its a bit, no, alot, smelly but the bones come up very clean.
I used to boil until i read thru the arch's.