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Monday, November 25, 2013

Tips On South Texas Taxidermy Experts

By Georgia Diaz


Taxidermy is made up of two words which come from the Greek language. The word taxi means to move, while the word derma means skin. After an animal is killed, the skin is removed, dried and preserved. It is then reconstructed again and stuffed carefully so that it looks just like when it was alive. This is the art of stuffing skin and is closely linked to sculpturing or painting. This craft has been practiced for many centuries especially by hunters who wanted to keep part of what they killed as part of their prized treasure. Helpful skills can be learnt from a South Texas Taxidermy expert.

This artistry is mainly carried out on vertebrate animals including animals, mammals, reptiles, amphibian and fish. They are commonly found in museums for the public to view and learn more about animals. The approach to this craft has improved over the centuries and hence the quality of stuffed animals has improved greatly.

Clearing out the skull without damaging it is a competence required in this particular art. There are many different methods that can be used to clean it without destroying the skull. A colony of beetles is a great option. The length of time it will take these insects to finish the job depends on the size of the skull and how active they are. It could take from a few days to weeks. Removing as much flesh as possible is advised because the beetles cannot eat so much.

Another important method used to remove flesh from the inside of the animals head is by growing microbes in a bucket of water. These organisms eat the flesh away. A side effect of this method is that it produces a really bad smell that can be very upsetting to neighbors as it can permeate a couple of miles away.

An easy and quick approach is by submerging the skull in a pail of warm water. The water temperature will dictate how long the microbes will take to get rid of the flesh. Throw away only half the water when it goes bad so as preserved most of the bacteria.

One of the quickest methods of clearing out the animal head is by using boiling water. It takes up to 18hours but can be damaging to the skull. Sometimes bleach is added to make the process much faster, however discoloration is inevitable.

It is being used to decorate homes and hence taxidermists being sought after. If done properly by skilled craftsmen, the artifact can look real as though it were alive. When done poorly, it is hardly noticed and does not look anywhere like the real animal.

This type of craft is highly pursued as a career. Tens of people are leaving their jobs to join this trade in pursuit of fulfillment and satisfaction. Any South Texas Taxidermy will give an insight into why they started the trade and how they are managing. There are websites providing classes for those who wish to do it from home. DVDs can easily be found by the professionals. More information about this career can be retrieved all around from conventions, magazines and associations.




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