How Does a Taxidermist Spend a Workday?
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Mounting the Animals
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There are two popular methods that taxidermists use to mount animals. One method is to freeze the animal and to remove the skin for tanning and further preservation. A taxidermist then takes measurements of all the muscles and bones and creates a plaster cast of the animal's body, which is used as a mannequin. A taxidermist can then place the original skin over this plaster cast and add eyes or artificial teeth if desired. Another popular method is freeze drying animals. This requires a lot of expensive equipment and can take a long time, but it is preferred for many smaller household pets as there is less alteration done to the actual animal's body.
Research and Upkeep
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In many situations, a taxidermist may be given an unfamiliar animal to mount. In these cases, a taxidermist may want to consult an anatomy book to ensure that he has a strong understanding of the animal's appearance and the location and size of major muscles and bones. Keeping up to date on new techniques and equipment in taxidermy also will take up a portion of a taxidermist's day, especially if the taxidermist is not actively mounting an animal at that moment. Better equipment and techniques not only allows for higher quality mounting, it can save time and money. If a taxidermist uses freeze drying, he will need to make sure that the machine is properly maintained. For cast mounting, a taxidermist must make sure each day that there are adequate supplies for all tasks at hand.
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Customers and Advertising
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In order to run a successful business, a taxidermist has to work with his customers. This includes talking to potential clients and explaining the benefits of taxidermy and how it can be used for their needs. The other side of this is accurate and timely billing for services rendered. In many cases, a taxidermist may want to advertise his services to generate more business. This can include placing advertisements in the Yellow Pages, taking out ads in specialty publications, such as hunting magazines, or using the Internet to advertise.
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