Skull Cleaning

Specializing in quality dermestid beetles

Skull Cleaning

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

Dermestid beetles are a specialized species of beetle that eats only animal flesh. Dermestid beetles are the longstanding preferred method of preparing skulls, used by many museum and university collections around the world. Preparing skulls with Dermestid beetles has several advantages over other methods, such as boiling or composting.

Dermestid beetles (it’s actually the larvae) remove flesh from the deepest recesses of the skull, without necessitating the use of tools, which can leave tool marks and damage delicate structures, such as nasal bones. (Many skull cleaning services actually completely destroy and remove these delicate nasal bones. We strongly believe these structures are an integral part of what makes a bear or deer what they are!)

Your trophy will have absolutely no unpleasant smell, because all traces of meat are removed, and no emulsified fats are impregnated into the bone. Cleaning with beetles does not allow bone structures or suture lines to be unnaturally weakened, or teeth loosened or subject to cracking. Boiling also has been shown to shrink skulls! Beetle cleaned skulls are degreased and whitened following beetle cleaning.

If you want a high quality trophy, consider having your trophy prepared by Dermestid beetles, and 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 on 2-3 days. Please contact us prior to shipping to provide notice of shipping. Upon receipt, your trophy is tagged with and identification tag to assure 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 a mailing/delivery confirmation number. We employ several quality control measures to insure no beetles or larvae remain alive in the skull when the cleaning is completed.

We are confident you will find we offer high quality services at competitive prices.

Have Questions? Contact Us!