Alexandra Rose Taxidermy

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to some of my most frequently asked questions.

 If there’s anything i’ve missed or something else you would like to know, please get in touch.

  • What is taxidermy?
    Taxidermy is the art of preparing, preserving and manipulating the skin of an animal over an armature form to create a lifelike copy of the living creature.
  • Did you kill these animals for the purpose of taxidermy?
    No. I have never, nor shall I ever, kill an animal for profit or pleasure. I love animals and have a huge passion for nature and wildlife.
  • Do you do pet taxidermy?
    Yes, however due to the sensitivity involved with the taxidermy of a beloved pet, I currently do not accept commissions of cats and dogs. For more immediate information please see my Pet Taxidermy page. Otherwise if you would like to discuss further please drop me an email.
  • What is Rogue Taxidermy?
    Rogue Taxidermy is a term coined in the early 2000’s for an unconventional branch of Taxidermy Art, formed by artists Sarina Brewer, Scott Bibus and Robert Marbury. They defined it as “A genre of pop-surrealist art characterized by mixed media sculptures containing conventional taxidermy-related materials that are used in an unconventional manner”

    You can read more about the movement on their website here.

    My use of Rogue Taxidermy combines my passion for traditional taxidermy with the playful ideologies of Victorian Anthropomorphic Taxidermist, Walter Potter, who created magical tableaux’s of animals dressed as humans in human-like situations. It’s very much the Marmite of the taxidermy world, you either love it or hate it.

    I love to create eccentric and whimsical mounts that play with the imagination, bringing feelings of both delight and discontent.
  • Do you run taxidermy classes or tuition?
    I do not currently offer any classes or private tuition. Maybe one day!

    There are however many resources available for people wanting to learn! I would highly reccommend
  • Can you ‘stuff’ my animal?
    Yes, sort of. ‘Stuffing’ is a funny term for taxidermy considering we don’t work with Christmas dinners!

    If you would like your specimen mounted, first please make sure that it was legally acquired, fresh and in good condition (meaning in the least it should still be in 3D and have no fowl odours). It then needs to be wrapped in a bag, clingfilmed or stored in tupperware and frozen immediately.

    Please see my how to guide for more information.
  • Do you ship outside the UK?
    Because of the complexities with different countries import/export laws I  currently only ship items within the UK for the majority of items.

    However…

    Domestic animals such as Mice, Rats and Rabbits can be shipped to most countries without issue!
  • Where do you source your animals from?
    I take the utmost care and respect with every specimen I work with. All of my animals are ethically sourced from road kill, deceased pets/livestock, cat encounters, responsible pest control, frozen feeder animals and rescue centre casualties.

    If you have an animal that you’d like to donate, please check out my guide for what to do next!
  • How do you deal with all the blood and guts?


    In most cases I don’t deal with any.

    I always explain the process of taxidermy like a sock on a foot, with the sock resembling an animal’s skin. We remove the sock, but the foot is still left completely intact. It’s then a matter of cleaning and preserving the sock to put on a replica foot. It’s not like when you take your socks off your feet fall apart!

    In reality, the skin is carefully removed, cleaned and preserved. A replica of the animals body is then created, traditionally using bound woodwool and more recently using foam forms, carved balsa wood and even 3D printing (yep, super cool).

    The skin is then mounted over the newly created form where the majority of the hard work begins, trying to replicate life in death.
  • I found a dead animal, what do I do now?


    Firstly, note down where and when you found it, this is especially useful for protected species such as birds of prey.

    An animal is only good for taxidermy if it is fresh and in good condition, so as soon as you have it, it needs to be frozen. Though a long dead animal or an animal that’s been flattened won’t be any good for mounting.

    Wrap the specimen in a plastic bag (removing as much air as possible) or into a clean tupperware for very small animals, this reduces the chances of dehydration and freezer burn down the line. Mark the container with the information you collected and put in the freezer as soon as possible.

    See my How To guide for more information!

    If properly stored the specimen can last for many years frozen. (Side note: UK Taxidermist Jazmine Miles Long once mounted a Cheetah skin that had been frozen for a whopping 37 years!)
  • I want to give you something i've found!


    Thank you! First please make sure that it was legally acquired, fresh and in good condition.

    Wrap the specimen in a plastic bag (removing as much air as possible) or into a clean tupperware for very small animals, this reduces the chances of dehydration and freezer burn down the line. Mark the container with the information you collected and put in the freezer as soon as possible.

    See my How To guide for more information and drop me an email!
  • Is taxidermy legal?
    In the U.K. Taxidermy is perfectly legal to buy, sell and commission. However there are many wildlife laws and regulations that must be abided by when dealing with deceased and mounted animals alike. We are governed by strict regulations, covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    As an accredited member of The Guild of Taxidermists, all the animals I work with have been legally obtained and sold in accordance with the UKs wildlife laws.

    For more information on Taxidermy and the law please check out Taxidermy Law and The Guild of Taxidermists.

    If you have a specimen which you’re not sure about, type it into Species Plus or the CITES website to check its CITES and protection status.
  • Can you taxidermy my nan?
    I’d rather not. Infact, it just isn’t legal to taxidermy people.

    Due to the many rules and regulations regarding human tissue and body disposal, taxidermy of a person will never be an option, at least for now.

    Not to mention they would be really difficult to do and look pretty awful. Look at yourself in the mirror and you see any abnormalities immediately, a spot, a puffy eye, wrinkles. Now imagine trying to replicate a person you may have known for 80+ years without immediately seeing something out of place. It doesn’t help that when hairless skin dies, it turns yellow. So all the depths of colour would need to be replaced without looking like a panto villain.

    The closest thing you might find is the touring Body Worlds exhibition by Dr. Gunther Von Hagens, famous for his plastination techniques.

    Many countries have honoured their dead in different ways for centuries. One of the most taxidermy like traditions are from a community on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, who dig up their mummified relatives every three years, clean and dress them and surround them with their favourite belongings to honour their spirits.