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taxidermy furs help me please! D:
12 years ago
General
-things regarding taxidermy below, please do not read if that bothers you-
So I was cleaning my case earlier and noticed one of my bird wings seemed to be disintegrating. I picked it up and all the downy feathers were falling right off. I didn't think a whole lot of it other than that was a shame and kept cleaning. Then I got to one of my foxes and noticed fur coming off in clumps from his tail, but not the rest of his body. I am horrified because this particular mount is incredibly special to me. I suspect bugs but don't actually see any. There are little black specks below him and a lot of fallen fur. I don't know what to do, I've had these items for years without a problem, maybe it's the warm climate down here. Everywhere I've looked online has said there is nothing you can do but since I know a few of you here are into taxidermy I thought someone might have some tips. Tomorrow I will amputate his tail and hope it doesn't spread since I just don't know what else to do. None of my other pelts seem to be affected, just these two pieces. *cries* anybody have any experience with this or ideas? I'm so upset. The bird wing was a gift from my mother who actually picked up a roadkill bird and brought it home for me, so it hurts to lose that, I don't want to lose any more!
So I was cleaning my case earlier and noticed one of my bird wings seemed to be disintegrating. I picked it up and all the downy feathers were falling right off. I didn't think a whole lot of it other than that was a shame and kept cleaning. Then I got to one of my foxes and noticed fur coming off in clumps from his tail, but not the rest of his body. I am horrified because this particular mount is incredibly special to me. I suspect bugs but don't actually see any. There are little black specks below him and a lot of fallen fur. I don't know what to do, I've had these items for years without a problem, maybe it's the warm climate down here. Everywhere I've looked online has said there is nothing you can do but since I know a few of you here are into taxidermy I thought someone might have some tips. Tomorrow I will amputate his tail and hope it doesn't spread since I just don't know what else to do. None of my other pelts seem to be affected, just these two pieces. *cries* anybody have any experience with this or ideas? I'm so upset. The bird wing was a gift from my mother who actually picked up a roadkill bird and brought it home for me, so it hurts to lose that, I don't want to lose any more!
freezing
"killing fur moths"
"Also, all the responses above are correct but if you choose freezing, you have to put it in for about 5 days, leave it thawed out for a couple of weeks and then put it back in for 5 more days to kill the eggs that are in there. But if your fur lasted 15 years before the moths got to them, I am truly amazed!"
http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/Lif.....3CAE9524C.html
Wikipedia backs this up a bit, though citation needed on most of the pest types:
"Bay leaves can also be used scattered in a pantry to repel meal moths,[6] flies,[citation needed] roaches,[citation needed] mice,[citation needed] and silverfish.[citation needed]
Bay leaves have been used in entomology as the active ingredient in killing jars. The crushed, fresh, young leaves are put into the jar under a layer of paper. The vapors they release kill insects slowly but effectively, and keep the specimens relaxed and easy to mount. The leaves discourage the growth of molds. They are not effective for killing large beetles and similar specimens, but insects that have been killed in a cyanide killing jar can be transferred to a laurel jar to await mounting.[7] It is not clear to what extent the effect is due to cyanide released by the crushed leaves, and to what extent other volatile products are responsible."
And that last paragraph is pretty interesting.
Might want to look into that and other herbs that repel insects.
moths love to target mounts, people usually get bug killers bag their taxidermy spray it in there then close off the bag for 2-3 days, spray again for any eggs then you can clean up the spray with a wash cloth and blow dry to dry after you get the spray off.