BIRD TAXIDERMY

I THINK MOST TAXIDERMISTS will agree that if a complete stranger walks into your shop, looks around a bit, and proclaims to have a bald eagle to mount and picks you for the task, well, that’s a federal problem about to occur! Such was the case a year ago when an American Indian came into my shop, enjoyed my showroom, and announced that he had finally received his assigned eagle and wanted the bird for display. Obviously, I figured the guy was a fed, so I went through my complete spiel on the whys and why-nots of having such a bird in possession. Out came the federal documents proving ownership and Indian heritage, and… well look—my name was on the possession tag. Damn!

My week was thus transformed into the wonderful taxidermy world of mounting a large raptor. I really don’t get many calls for birds of prey, accidentally killed, purposely shot, or simply found on the side of....

...Continued in the Spring 2006 Issue of Breakthrough.

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