I am as novice as it gets when it comes to taxidermy. I have a raccoon in the freezer and some sqirrels and I want to get them skinned and treated , but I'm not sure how far I need to go with all the steps because I'm not doing a traditional mount. I want the skins to mount around a wire armature with small robotics inside so they can be sewn up. I'm trying to make a mechanical animal band that plays a really simple song. I ordered a Rittel's easy tanning kit. DOes anyone have any tips for skinning? I don't know what "turning the ears" or "splitting the eyes and mouth" mean.
Also is there anyone with some skinned critters that are in less than good shape that I could get into the band?
Thanks for any tips or advice,
Linda
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Linda, sounds like you better do a heap of research on this project. You got a big dream going there, a tall order indeed. To turn the ears is to turn them inside out, as to turn a glove inside out. Splitting the lips and eyes is to take a scalpel blade and cut on the inside of the mouth around the lips and remove the meat the forms the lip so that you end up with only skin. It's hard to describe, you should get a video on skinning and fleshing from a taxidermy supply like WASCO. Research all you can before you start. This site is great to find anything that you want, but you need to know what you want first before we can help you, we cant teach you here, but when you get farther down the road with knowledge, then you can relate to what we are saying to help you. Good luck and start digging up all you can.