Kelly: “Now I know what all those jars are that we see in so many horror movies! How does the collection of these animals aid in our scientific understanding? Anything surprising you’ve learned along the way?”
Lexi Ames: “At one point, all species described by science required a preserved specimen that ‘proved’ their existence. Collecting samples provides many benefits to science and the public. Collecting city animals hit by cars may, for example, offer valuable information on parasite infestations, food availability, disease concerns, and even minute evolutionary changes! This data can then be used for the benefit of both animal and human residents.”
Kelly: “I just read about this in relation to chronic wasting disease and deer specimens!”
Lexi Ames: “Museums often have drawer upon drawer of these samples, hidden away from public view. Collecting samples over vast periods of time can also show us how animals are adapting to new challenges like habitat loss or climate change, and help us estimate how future populations may change throughout time. Then, of course, there’s the inspiring beauty to these collections. Observers can get very close to the specimens and drink in the detail and structure of the animal in question without worrying about putting the animal into a state of stress. This is especially inspiring to young children, and helps to instate curiosity and wonder of the natural world. Last, it is good to remember that these collections often were taken at a high cost, and that the field of science has greatly expanded its collective opinions on ethicality.”
Meg: “I love how you describe the balance of science and art! What is one piece that you were super excited about? A find that was a big one for you.”
Lexi Ames: “One spring, I was hiking with a friend in rural Wisconsin when we came across an entire skeleton of a massive ten-point buck. It’s highly unusual to find such a treasure; scavengers hadn’t removed any pieces from the site, and aside from the mat of hair he laid on, the bones were nearly clean. He was laid out in a shady, fern-filled valley, with only his antlers visible above the foliage. We gathered up every last bit except for the hooves as they had become too soft, and carried them several miles back to the car in our sweatshirts and raincoats. We call him Heathcliff, and he hangs in my childhood home next to Cathy, the doe skull my father and I collected when I was four years old.”
Kelly: “Heathcliff and Cathy, love the Wuthering Heights reference! What sort of reactions do you get about being a taxidermy enthusiast and collector? And what are some inaccuracies people believe that are not true about taxidermy and bone/fur collection?”
Lexi Ames: “While most people find it engaging and enjoy asking questions about the animals and process, some people are very disturbed by it, either in reaction to the welfare of animals, or the fear of death and the nature of dead bodies. As an animal lover myself, I understand where the concerns of those in the former category come from. Hunting practices and meat consumption can be highly divisive topics, and I try to keep up with facts on both sides of the equation to facilitate conversation and keep my own mind open. The animals and bones in my collection have come to me in mostly gentle ways, usually after a natural death. I believe people in the latter category, those afraid of the dead body itself, reflect the state of America’s disengagement with death as a society. We interact with death very little, and sterilize the experience when we do. However, new death movements here in the states, such as greener burial practices, are making people slowly more comfortable with mortality. Even pet taxidermy is becoming more common. I think we are seeing a turning point in accepting reminders of death, like taxidermy and open conversations on the topic, back into our homes. Maybe it can even unite the country! Game taxidermists and pet taxidermists coming together could be a beautiful thing.
Another common misconception is that it is a highly dirty and unfeeling practice and composed mostly of men. While there are precautions to be taken, and animal bodies do harbor bacteria and foul smells, the process requires a steady, gentle hand. A deep respect for the animal’s remains is required to make the creature life-like again. And the field is far from lacking women—almost all the taxidermists I follow on social media identify as women! It’s a very exciting time for the art form.”
Meg: “You managed a bird and small mammal specimen collection in college, do you think that experience impacted your views on death?”
Lexi Ames: “A quick background on the collection: The Lawrence University ornithology collection is made up of some three-hundred birds from over two-hundred years of collection (we also had many small mammals like voles and bats). I digitized the collection, and obtained the proper paperwork from the Wisconsin DNR to collect birds killed in window-strikes to add to the assemblage. I was also trained to preserve their bodies as study skins. A study skin is the bird’s intact pelt, wings, head, and legs with the internal organs, fat, and muscles removed. It looks like a bird sleeping neatly on its back with the wings tucked under and the eyes stuffed with cotton. My views of both death and conservation were sent into overdrive while working with the birds. The sheer numbers being killed on a campus the size of just a few city blocks was astounding. Sometimes as many as four birds would be killed all at once when their flock migrated through and became confused by the glass, and our freezer was constantly full. The diversity of species was also quite impressive, and made me want to spread word about doing more to protect the birds as they passed through. The preservation process of turning a body into a study skin is also quite intimate, and a very hands-on process. Stated simply, the bird’s body and soft tissue must be turned out of the skin, leaving behind a sort of bird jacket. The inside of the “jacket” is then cleaned, dried with sawdust, stuffed with cotton, stitched up, and left to dry on its back. It’s a delicate procedure, and requires speed and gentleness. I always felt very lucky to be able to witness the inner workings of these little creatures. They’re highly delicate, and each was an individual, like a person. Some would have particularly thick wing muscles or bright feathers compared to other members of their species, or a weaker, less healthy bird may have evidence of mites and ticks. I was always moved by the experience.”
Kelly: “Fascinating! Meg is not okay right now because she has a fear of birds.”
Meg: “I do!”
Kelly: “Do you think horror films (Norman Bates was an avid taxidermist) or the media in general have given people a negative view of taxidermy? Are there any films that have shown it in a positive light?”