How to Perform Salt Cure Taxidermy

Last Updated: March 21, 2021 Approved

Taxidermy is traditionally seen as a difficult and tedious art that takes years to perfect. However, by using simple methods of dehydration and preservation even an amateur can create simple taxidermy crafts using the salt bath process. Body parts containing little fat and tissue such as tails, feet, and paws can be preserved and altered to create neat trinkets such as necklaces, antenna toppers, hood ornaments, or anything that the imagination spawns.

Steps

1
Select a specimen. Almost any animal's paws, feet, or tails can be used whether it be a small creature such as a squirrel, or a larger animal such as a deer. Specimens can be collected from various sources. One primary collection method is simply to hunt the prey, but if you don't want to take the time to stalk, shoot, and clean the animal roadkill can provide excellent samples. Keep in mind some US states require the purchase of a trapping license to retrieve roadkill.^{[1]
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2
Find a container large enough to hold the sample. Be sure that the container can be filled with salt and will not be needed for 6-8 weeks.

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3
Fill the bottom of the container with iodized salt. A thin layer on the bottom should suffice.
4
Clean and trim the sample. Often when cutting off a tail or paw there may be a little meat or refuse near the cut area. Trim this off and pour salt over the entire cut area. This is where most of the moisture will leave and where you will mount key rings etc.^{[2]
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5
Place the sample in the salt bath and cover completely with iodized salt. The dehydration process should take about 6 weeks depending on the size of the sample.^{[3]
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6
Process the sample. Once the specimen is completely cured out you can begin turning it into whatever you desire. For most small crafts such as key chains, necklaces, and antenna toppers you might consider covering the cut end of the specimen with a hardening polymer such as liquid steel and then sanding it once it is dry, drilling a hole through the polymer and the bone, and ultimately inserting a key ring, leather strap, etc.^{[4]
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Community Q&A

Question

It says "salt bath," but does not mention adding water to the container. Will this be salt only or do I need to add water?

QueerDeer

Community Answer

God no! The entire point of salt curing is to absorb all moisture from the specimen, leaving it dry and preserving fur and other parts of the animal that would normally rot. The word "bath" here just means "immersion," nothing to do with water.
Question

After catching a skunk, I cut the tail off and removed the bone. Now after a few days in salt the hair is falling out. Did I mess it up or do I still have hope?

Harper A

Community Answer

Its likely that the tail was starting to slip. You should continue to preserve it but it's likely the hair will continue to fall out.
Question

Can this work for entire small animals, like mice? I found a really beautiful one this morning. Also, after it's preserved, does the fur still feel soft?

QueerDeer

Community Answer

If the specimen is small enough, it could work. I have a (salt) preserved wren heart, so I'm sure even (most of) the organs would preserve along with it. If anything, I'd make a slit somewhere along its stomach to allow it to properly 'breathe,' but that could also be an extremely delicate process, as you could split the bladder or other organs in the process! My best advice is to just try it out!

Warnings

When retrieving samples from roadkill be extra cautious about traffic. It is safer to pull the animal to the side of the road and then take your time in cutting off the tail, paw, etc. The best and safest tool to use in cutting off the sample is pruning shears, which make a straight clean cut.

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