if you can manage to get it skinned and mostly flensed, burying it horse
manure could probably have it done in 4-6 weeks if you keep it warm (65-80
deg F).
lee post and i have had quite a bit of success with this process. bury the
skunk in discrete layers in a plastic tote. we've left critters in totes
in classrooms, and almost nobody even notices.
use fairly fresh manure; best if you screen it through 1/4" mesh. this
will break the manure into a consistent texture, and will also remove any
large sticks and rocks.
granted, you still have to excavate the skel at the end (and you never
*quite* know when it's done). but the bones come out beautifully, with
little or no smell. i've attached a picture of a harbor seal forelimb that
was done in manure--you'll probably want to soak the bones in ammonia just
in case there's a bit of smell left over.....
---mike
Michael A. Etnier, PhD
Applied Osteology
Bellingham, WA
www.appliedosteology.com
and
Department of Anthropology
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
http://faculty.washington.edu/metnier/
-------- Original Message --------
> From: "Elizabeth Arnold" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 10:40 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: SPAM-LOW: [ZOOARCH] Skunk maceration advice?
>
> Hello all.
>
> I have been provided with a large male skunk (road kill) from a colleague
to build our zooarchaeological collection. Unfortunately, he smells and so
cannot be brought to the lab for processing. Other than composting him, are
there other (quick) options for processing that people have used or know?
>
> Many thanks
> liz
>
>
>
> Elizabeth R. Arnold, PhD
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Anthropology
> 1158 Au Sable Hall
> Grand Valley State University
> Allendale, MI 49401
> U.S.A.
> Office: (616) 331 8936
> Fax: (616) 331 2328
>
> www.gvsu.edu/anthropology/
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