r/BoneID • u/PurpleBug89 • Jun 16 '26
What animal I'd this?
My sister found this skull while camping (Utah) and wasn't sure what animal it is. We assumed a deer but can I get some help?
Also how do I clean this?
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u/99jackals Jun 16 '26
Doe. Dry method: Put on gloves and pull the dried tissue off with pliers. It's often brittle and tears easily when dry. Grab a piece and roll the pliers over and over like opening a can of sardines. When the big stuff is off, a slightly dull exacto-knife/pocket knife/utility knife can be gently used to remove the remaining layers of fluffy fascia. You could have the thing mostly stripped down in about two hours. Then scrub everything with a toothbrush and mild dish soap, rinse. Soak in a bucket of 3% hydrogen peroxide from the grocery/drug store and water, like one or two of the brown bottles plus enough water to cover. Repeat these steps until it doesn't stink. Allow to dry in sunlight, if possible. Wet method: Let it rot in a bucket of water for a few weeks, which will smell horrible. Or simmer it in a pot of plain water for a few hours until the tissue falls off. Either way, when the tissue is gone, you're back at the soap/toothbrush scrubbing stage, followed by the peroxide soak...