It may have taken you days to track and take down your mountain lion trophy, so now that you have it, shouldn’t it be protected? Taxidermy is a significant investment that isn’t just a one-and-done. You need to care for your mount properly if you want it to look its best in your home. From monitoring the amount of moisture in the air around it to keeping dirty mitts off of it, there are a few important steps you can take to protect your trophy. Here are some quick tips to keep your trophies, like mountain lion mounts in Cody, WY, looking great.
Keep it dry
Too much moisture is a damaging enemy to taxidermy. Overly humid homes can wreak havoc on your prize mount, so be sure to monitor the health of your mount and watch for signs of deterioration caused by excessive moisture in the air. Consider purchasing small, portable humidity monitors to keep near your mounts and around the house to ensure an appropriate environment for taxidermy pieces—you’ll be glad you did.
Keep it clean
In a way, fur is similar to your carpet in that it needs to stay clean to look, feel and be healthy. Like your carpet, fur traps dust and other particulate matter that can make it look dull and dirty. Even something as simple as regular dusting can greatly extend the life of your mount without much effort. But if left unchecked, the dust and dirt in your home can make your mounts look dull and can ultimately lead to permanent damage. Avoid using powerful vacuums or harsh chemicals that can damage the fur patterns or remove protective oils.
Keep it out of harm’s way
For a live wild mountain lion, the sun is a wonderful place to bask and rest up for a hunt. But for taxidermy mountain lion mounts in Cody, WY, direct sunlight is an enemy that will cause serious damage and degrade fur and hide beyond repair. While a ferocious mountain lion trophy may look more impressive in a ray of sunlight, remember you must protect it from ultraviolet exposure. Instead, try lighting it with artificial lights that won’t lead to UV damage.
Keep out of the reach of children
Kids love animals, but they should not be given the opportunity to play with your lion mount, or any other mount for that matter. Dirty hands, food particles and any number of other things can result in irreparable damage to your mountain lion mount. So, while children will likely look at it like nothing more than a big kitty cat, to you it represents a successful hunt and a substantial investment. If you can’t keep it out of their reach, take other steps to make sure they understand that your trophy is not a toy and is to be left alone.
At Nature’s Design Taxidermy, we will do everything we can to help you help yourself keep your mountain lion mounts in Cody, WY in good condition. Call us today to schedule a consultation!