Whether you have a large taxidermy collection that you want to store for safekeeping or just need to temporarily store animal mounts during a home remodel, it’s important to give some thought to how they’re stored. This guide will help you prepare your mounts and choose the right storage option to prevent damage from insects and sunlight.
How to pack taxidermy
The best way to protect your taxidermy collection from dust, sunlight, and pests is to seal it in wooden boxes, which you can probably get from the taxidermist. After loading each trophy into its own box, mount it to the inside of the box with wood screws. Have someone hold the board against the wood while you drive the screws into place. While it’s possible to store more than one frame in a single box, you’ll need to take care to ensure they don’t touch or bump against each other, as even rubbing against each other can leave abrasion marks.
Choose climate control storage
The most important thing you can do to protect your taxidermy collection is to ensure a constant level of humidity and temperature. That is why it is not recommended to store your collection in a basement or attic; large temperature fluctuations will cause the skins to crack. A climate-controlled storage unit uses an HVAC system, dehumidifier, and humidifier to maintain a safe, constant temperature between 60 and 85 degrees and a humidity level that does not exceed 60%.
Choose a secure storage facility
Climate control is definitely important, but you also need to choose your storage facility carefully. Your trophies cannot be replaced. Make sure the facility has excellent security with video surveillance, individual door alarms, and on-site management.
deter pests
Once your collection is safely stored, take the time to prepare the boxes to prevent a pest infestation. You can put silica gel packets or even poison pellets in the boxes to take care of any rodents that get in, and cover the seams of the box with silicone. No Pest strips are also a good idea to kill insects that might eat your mounts. These strips last about four months, so you’ll need to return regularly to check on your unit.
check them regularly
One of the advantages of storing your taxidermy collection in self-storage is that you can easily access them to check for damage and clean them. After all, the last thing you want is to find out that mice or moths have invaded your storage space.
As difficult as it is to store your prized trophies in a storage unit, it’s the best way to keep them safe until you can return them to where they belong.
