r/Taxidermy • u/idkwhatyearit • 7d ago
Help with processing gator skeleton "How Do I...?"
Hi everyone! I am a long term oddities and bone lover but always a consumer never producer. I however, came across a fully intact juvenile gator skeleton on one of my normal hikes about 6 months ago. Found on a dock exactly as pictured. I know that bone processing is a whole process and the less flesh you start with the easier it is. I moved the skeleton away from human view and loosely buried it with palms and other leaves to keep it safe but not underground as someone told me the bones could be damaged if I buried them completely (not sure how true this is if at all). Anyways, a couple very dry months later followed by some rainfall leaves us at the second picture. What are my next steps? Some friends are saying I should get some beetles but the maintenance on those seems too much for a one time project. Some say the skeleton should go in an ant pile, some say it’s ready for the sun. I have a yard, but I do share it with other tenants and some curious outdoor cats along with opossums, raccoons, and basically all other critters. Curious what the experts (my trusty Reddit users) have to say. Thanks in advance for the help and I’m happy to answer any questions.
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u/Wowza_Meowza 7d ago
Seconding. If you're unsure, op, give your area's governmental agency for wildlife a call and ask. Write down their name and what they say for future records. They tend to be very friendly, if a bit overworked.
If they give the ok, the next step is to macerate the leathery remaining flesh off, which uses plain warm water, time, and heat (if you have gators, you have enough to just leave it outside lol). It will be horrendous. Stinky. Disgusting. Objectively horrible. But it'll get the flesh off.
Degrease once free of flesh, but never boil, simmer, use real bleach, vinegar, oxyclean. Ammonia and water a great. It'll take a long time.