To save an animal skull, you must meticulously clean, degrease, and whiten it through a series of steps to preserve its structure and appearance.
How to Save an Animal Skull
Preserving an animal skull is a fascinating process that allows you to honor the animal and study its anatomy. The key to a well-preserved skull lies in thorough cleaning and preparation, removing all organic material, degreasing bones, and achieving a bright, clean finish.
1. Initial Cleaning: Removing Flesh and Soft Tissue
Before you can truly preserve a skull, all flesh, brains, and soft tissues must be removed. Several methods can be employed, each with its own advantages.
- Maceration (Water Decomposition): This is a widely used and effective method.
- Process: Submerge the skull in a container of warm water. For enhanced cleaning and decomposition, place the skull in a warm water bath with 2 US tbsp (30 mL) per gallon of water of an enzymatic laundry detergent for up to 7 weeks. The enzymes help break down remaining tissues. Change the water regularly (every few days to a week) to prevent odor and aid the process. Keep the water warm (ideally between 70-90°F or 21-32°C) for optimal bacterial activity.
- Benefits: Gentle on bone, produces a clean skull.
- Considerations: Can be odorous; requires patience.
- Dermestid Beetles: For a professional and very clean result, many taxidermists use colonies of dermestid beetles.
- Process: The skull is placed in a beetle colony, and the beetles consume all the soft tissue, leaving the bones perfectly clean.
- Benefits: Extremely thorough and quick.
- Considerations: Requires maintaining a beetle colony; not suitable for home enthusiasts.
- Burial: While a natural method, burial can stain bones and attract pests, making it less ideal for pristine preservation.
- Process: Bury the skull in the ground for several months.
- Benefits: Natural.
- Considerations: Can stain bones, difficult to monitor, risk of scattering bones.
After any of these methods, carefully remove any stubborn bits of tissue with tools like dental picks, tweezers, or a soft brush. Ensure the skull is completely clean of organic matter before moving to the next stage.
2. Degreasing the Skull
Degreasing is a critical step to prevent yellowing or "sweating" of fats from the bone over time. This process removes natural oils and residual fats.
- Method: Submerge the cleaned skull in a solution of warm water and a good quality dish soap or a household degreaser. The water should be warm to help dissolve the fats.
- Soaking Time: This process can take several days to several weeks, depending on the skull's size and oiliness. Large, porous bones (like those from bears or wild boars) often require longer degreasing times.
- Monitoring: Change the water and soap solution regularly as it becomes cloudy or discolored from the extracted fats. Continue until the water remains clear.
- Rinsing: After degreasing, rinse the skull thoroughly under running water to remove all soap residue.
3. Whitening and Sanitizing
Once degreased and dry, the skull can be whitened and sanitized. This step gives the skull a clean, off-white appearance and kills any remaining bacteria.
- Drying: After initial cleaning and degreasing, remove the skull and let it air dry for at least 24 hours before proceeding to whitening.
- Bleaching: Set the skull in a 3-6% hydrogen peroxide bath for 7-10 hours to bleach it until it's off-white.
- Important Note: Never use household bleach (chlorine bleach) as it can degrade the bone structure over time, making it brittle and chalky. Hydrogen peroxide gently whitens without damaging the bone.
- Application: Ensure the skull is fully submerged. You can place it in a plastic container and cover it with the hydrogen peroxide solution.
- Monitoring: Check the skull periodically. Once it reaches a desired off-white color, it's ready.
- Rinsing: After the peroxide bath, thoroughly rinse the skull under clean water to remove any residual hydrogen peroxide.
4. Final Drying and Assembly
Allow the skull to air dry completely in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or excessive heat, which could cause cracking. This may take several days. If the skull articulated during the process (e.g., lower jaw separated), you can reattach it using museum-grade adhesive.
Essential Tools and Materials
Having the right tools makes the process much smoother and safer.
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Large Plastic Containers | For maceration, degreasing, and bleaching baths |
| Enzymatic Laundry Detergent | Aids in tissue breakdown during maceration |
| Hydrogen Peroxide (3-6%) | For safe whitening and sanitization |
| Disposable Gloves | For handling skulls and chemicals |
| Face Mask | To avoid inhaling odors during cleaning |
| Tweezers/Dental Picks | For removing stubborn tissue fragments |
| Soft Brushes | For scrubbing and cleaning delicate areas |
| Warm Water Source | Essential for various stages |
| Dish Soap/Degreaser | For degreasing the bone |
| Museum-Grade Adhesive | For reattaching detached parts (optional) |
Safety and Ethical Considerations
- Ventilation: Perform all cleaning steps in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors, due to potential odors.
- Personal Protection: Always wear gloves when handling skulls, especially during the initial cleaning phases, to protect against bacteria and pathogens. A mask is also recommended.
- Chemical Handling: Use hydrogen peroxide in a well-ventilated space and avoid contact with skin and eyes.
- Ethical Sourcing: Ensure the animal skull was obtained legally and ethically. Respect local laws regarding the collection of animal remains. For example, in many places, it's illegal to possess parts of protected species without a permit. Consider the origin of the skull – was it a natural death, roadkill, or legally hunted?
By following these detailed steps, you can successfully clean and preserve an animal skull, creating a lasting and educational display piece.
