I'm working on mounting some squirrels for the PA taxidermy exam. I don't even want to mount squirrels in my business, but two small game animals are required.
I have mounted a few foxes and a coon with good results and my deer are getting better and better.
I salted one gray squirrel dry, rehydrated, pickled in safee acid pickle, neutralized and liqua-tanned. Tumbled in dryer on AIR ONLY and some fur by the base of the tail slipped off.
Next squirrel I skinned and placed directly in the pickle. Seemed to be working fine. Then I neutralized and began to dry. One ear skin slipped completely off.
Only thing I can figure is the damage was done before salting or pickling, maybe from taking too long turning ears, which took me a few tries to perfect, also. What do you guys and gals think?
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I have used Ben Mears spray tan on several small mammals. No problems whatsoever.
If it was, then the damage was done in the thawing. I skin squirrels out as soon as I get them and then right into a pickle, or salting or a crystal tan, usually what ever is best at the time. I work out of town, so if I get a critter I want, I salt it dry while I am out of town. It is way easyer to skin a fresh squirrel anyway. The toes come out and the tail comes out a lot better. Also, if you are a hungry, you acan just cook up the squirrel and eat it as well. LOL
Squirrels were frozen whole. Thank you so much for your input. Been most helpful. Eric