Taxidermy Mesa AZ also known as mounting, is the craft of preserving an animal's whole body through stuffing or mounting, for the purposes of study or display. Many animals are frequently, if not always, depicted in a lifelike state in taxidermy. Taxidermy has been around since ancient times in one form or another. Ancient peoples preserved animals through the use of mounted deer and camel displays.

Taxidermy differs from other forms of art because it usually involves the preservation of an animal through skinning, stuffing or mounting. The most commonly used materials for taxidermy are skin, feathers, hide, and antlers. Animal skins, antlers and feathers are particularly valuable because they can provide valuable data on the growth rate and age of the animal. Studying the various forms of animal skin will help artists make more detailed taxidermy prints.

Some taxidermist artists have learned to graft teeth from mammals onto their mounts, sometimes using complete dentures. The animal skin, antlers, and feathers are then meticulously sewn together to create a sort of stuffing. A small amount of blood, which can be drawn from the animal skin using a needle, serves as a medium for the drawing and sewing process. The final product is then mounted on a board and proudly displayed for all to see in a taxidermy museum.

In comparison to other art forms, taxidermy has only relatively recent origins. Prior to the seventeenth century, taxidermy was done primarily for the purpose of covering mounts. Later on, natural history writers began including descriptions of skins found in museums with specimens that were being categorized and studied. Naturalists and raiders soon came to realize that many of their collections came from skins of animals that were long deceased, making it necessary for them to keep records of these items. Records were kept of everything from animal skins that could be used for taxidermy to complete zoo specimens and were then passed down throughout the generations.

Today, taxidermy has become an accepted scientific practice, with most taxidermists now making it a point to study both the natural and artificial history of mounts and skins in order to preserve them for future generations. Most taxidermists today understand the important role that skins play in both the conservation of wildlife and individual identities. Many states have laws that require taxidermists to preserve records of endangered species.

Those who wish to take on this profession should become board certified by a number of organizations, including the American Taxidermist Association and the CITES. The taxidermist should also be knowledgeable about breeding animals and working with mount and skins, and should work with other taxidermists in his or her field.

Taxidermy, as a skill, can be learned over time. The best technique for the creation of a full mount depends on the type of animal being mounted, as well as the desired pattern. A common practice is to first use a skin graft from the back of an animal to cover the opening for the snout. Sometimes a piece of fur from an animal that is no longer available is used. The hair should be thick enough to keep the skin in place and elastic to allow the mount to drape naturally.

Over the years, more elaborate ways of mounting animals such as quillings, grafted skins and even artificial skin have been developed. Artificial skin and quillings are now often used as taxidermy techniques. Quills can be made from a variety of materials, including hair, feathers, and fabric. In recent years, a new technique called leninization has come into play when dealing with animals like horses and pigs. Instead of using a needle or thread to stitch the skin, the animal is pummeled with a force and then ligated with ligament fibers or synthetic material to make it hang smoothly.

While it is not easy, anyone can become skilled in taxidermy. It takes patience and determination to look alive and natural with your specimens. Animals like zebras, turtles, tortoises, sloths and many others all benefit from taxidermy. Over time, the skill becomes one of your best tools for preserving history.