Professional Skull Cleaning

Specializing in quality dermestid beetles

Skull Cleaning

Kodiak Bones & Bugs Taxidermy is a professional, licensed, family-operated taxidermy service, specializing solely in quality skull cleaning and European mounts, using the time-tested method of dermestid beetles. We would like to contribute to your hunt by professionally cleaning and preparing your trophy skull for proud display.

Dermestid beetles are a specialized species of beetle that eat only animal flesh. Dermestid beetles are the longstanding preferred method of preparing skulls, used by many museum and university collections around the world.

Advantages of Skull Cleaning Beetles

While there are various methods available for skull cleaning, like boiling or composting, the use of dermestid beetles stands out as a superior choice. Not only does it ensure a comprehensive cleaning, but it also respects and maintains the natural intricacies and structure of the skull.

Here are just a few of the reasons to choose professional skull cleaning with dermestid beetles:

Deep and Detailed Cleaning – It’s the larvae of the dermestid beetles that do the actual cleaning. They meticulously remove flesh, even from the deepest recesses of the skull. This level of precision ensures that every nook and cranny is addressed.

Preservation of Delicate Structures – Tools, especially when used by less experienced individuals, can leave marks and damage delicate parts of a skull. The most vulnerable of these are the nasal bones. Regrettably, some skull cleaning services damage or entirely remove these fragile structures. However, using dermestid beetles avoids such issues.

At Kodiak Bones & Bugs Taxidermy, we believe that these nasal bones are vital, playing a role in defining the uniqueness of animals like bears or deer.

Odorless Results – A skull cleaned by dermestid beetles will have no unpleasant smell. This is because the beetles ensure all traces of meat are gone. Plus, there’s no risk of emulsified fats seeping into the bone, which can cause a lingering odor.

Bone Integrity – Some cleaning methods can weaken the natural structures of the bone, causing issues like loosened teeth or weakened suture lines. This is not the case with skull cleaning beetles. Furthermore, methods like boiling can cause the skull to shrink—another problem avoided with beetle skull cleaning.

Post-Cleaning Enhancement – Once the skull cleaning beetles have done their job, the skulls undergo a degreasing and whitening process. The result? A pristine, naturally cleaned skull ready for display.

If you want a high-quality trophy, consider having your animal skull prepared by dermestid beetles at Kodiak Bones & Bugs Taxidermy.

Shipping Skulls:

Skulls should be fleshed as much as possible, frozen, and wrapped and taped in several layers of plastic trash bags. Priority mail usually takes only 2-3 days. Please contact us prior to shipping to provide notice of the shipment. Upon receipt, your trophy is tagged with an identification tag to ensure accountability. (Bear skulls must also have any required seal affixed prior to cleaning.)

Elk

Degreasing, cleaning & whitening:  $175

Deer/Bear

Degreasing, cleaning & whitening:  $125

Other Species

Prices are proportional.

We have facilities to clean skulls and racks as large as moose and caribou.

Skulls may be sent to:

KBBT
24 High Meadow Drive
Lyle, WA 98635

When completed, your trophy will be carefully packaged and shipped via priority mail, or by the shipment method of your choice. You will be contacted at the time of shipping and provided with a mailing/delivery confirmation number. We employ several quality control measures to ensure no skull cleaning beetles or larvae remain alive in the skull when the cleaning is completed.

If you are searching online for “skull cleaning beetles near me”—we have you covered! We are confident you will find that we offer high-quality services at competitive prices.

Searching for Skull Cleaning Near Me?

At Kodiak Bones & Bugs Taxidermy, we specialize in revealing the intricate beauty hidden within every skull. Using nature’s own cleaners, the dermestid beetles, we promise precision, integrity, and unparalleled care for every piece entrusted to us.

 

For a service that respects the natural essence and structure of your specimen, trust in Kodiak’s specialized beetle skull cleaning service today!