So, does anyone collect and if so what is it that you collect. I mostly have skulls and skeletons but have a few random bits thrown in. Pictures of my small collection below. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Young male Muntjac Adult male muntjac Coyote Bobcat A magpie and a carrion crow Bat skull Roe deer skull/antler plate Spotted dove skeleton Field rat skeleton Duckling Top hat duckling Hanging mummified bat Crow claw necklace
Its not my thing I like animals to be alive not killed & stuffed [bears, lions, tigers etc], I also find them disturbing & freaky
I definitely do not support animals being killed FOR taxidermy, however the lady I get my stuff from is very ethical about where she sources her specimens from. They are all either already dead, road kill or byproducts from the food industry. I do generally prefer bones and skulls rather than stuffed animals, there are some beautiful wet specimens I have seen available too. Though I must get a stuffed crow/raven one day.
I am sorry if this puts a damper on your hobby, but to be honest I find those skulls and skeletons very disturbing, and that mummified bat positively the stuff of which nightmares are made. As for stuffed whole animals/birds - however they died - thanks but no thanks. They are not my idea of how I want to see animals.
A lot of auction houses in England won't sell stuff wild animals like bears, lions, tigers, Pandas, Gorillas, unless they are 200 plus years old, regardless of how they died, there was that big argument when Twicross Zoo (not sure if that's spelt right) wanted to have one of their silver back gorillas stuffed after it had died of old age, they lost the battle & could not have it stuffed in the end, because it was a wild animal & even though it had died of old age & not by some disease, the authorities still said no. I know someone that had his GSD stuff after she had died, the thing freaks me out everytime I go round there, the glass eyes seem to follow you around & it smells horrible. I much prefer a painting/drawing of my pets to remember them by not having them stuffed.
Its not for me, although the skeletons/sculls don’t bother me to much but I'd feel pretty grossed out if I had a dead body chilling out in my living room.
I find it macabre. but each to his own. Went in a pub near us once and they had stuffed pheasants and other stuff. Lovely pub, but could never face going in it again
Generally, not my bag, but I do have to admit to a fascination with bats. Do you know the species of your specimens? I find their dentition very interesting. I couldn't live with the ducklings though. Last year I found what I thought was a dog skull - I now think it was probably a fox - I didn't bring it home though.
I find it very interesting, but I can't afford it! You have some nice skulls and the bat render is very well done. I've seen several people have their pets who were euthanized taxidermied which isn't for me, but if that's their peace, then I don't judge.
I have just watched 'Women that kill lions' on ch4 so probably not the best post to click on afterwards
