How to Clean Hawk Claws

Hawks are large birds of prey.

Hawk claws are often used in jewelry, carving and decorative work. These predatory birds can be dangerous to humans and small animals so it's not recommended you keep them as pets, which eliminates the need to clean their claws while they're alive. Claw is a material that is a specialized form of hair, so it has properties that allow for it to disintegrate over time. They are affected by water and chemicals, so keep cleaning to a minimum to preserve the claws.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl
• Distilled water
• Scrubbing brush

Instructions

1. Soak the claws in a bowl filled with lukewarm distilled water for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Scrub the claws gently with a scrub brush to remove debris.

3. Remove the claws from the water and allow them to dry in a cool area so they don't crack or break.

4. Soak the claws in water for 20 minutes and allow them to dry slowly before drilling or carving. The claws swell slightly with water, which helps keep them from cracking when being worked with.

References

• Minnesota Historical Society: Quills, Horn, Hair, Feathers, Claws, and Baleen