[Nhcoll-l] compost

[Anderson, Gretchen]

Hi Greg,


I have not done this personally - however, there was an elephant skeleton at Science Museum of Minnesota that was prepared by burying it in a big pit.  It apparently took over a year, but the specimen came out fine - much better than a bison that was done some years later through the boil - bleach method.  Rebecca Newberry could possibly get more detail. She has contact with the curator emeritus who was involved.


Good luck

Gretchen

________________________________
From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Revelez, Marcia (CDC/DDPHSS/CSELS/DLS) <mte8 at cdc.gov>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2019 3:09:08 PM
To: Thomas Labedz; Watkins-Colwell, Gregory; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] compost


Hey Greg,

I’ve helped prepped and bury a rhino.  I know it’s not compost, but it came out fine.  A little stained from the dirt, but a good bath soak took care of all of that.  We removed the skull, limbs and tail (anything with small bones) and buried everything else. Just be sure to remember where you buried it – it took ours about a year ;)



Marcy





From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Thomas Labedz
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2019 2:58 PM
To: Watkins-Colwell, Gregory <gregory.watkins-colwell at yale.edu>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] compost



I’ve done some skeletal prep with my lawn waste compost pile at home. Turned out very nice, grease free; but took about a year. Any exposed bone will be subject to gnawing by rodents or scavenging by larger mammalian pests. I suggest some sort of galvanized metal hail screen, perhaps on a framework of some sort, that will prevent damage. Squirrels, raccoons, etc. would chew right through a tarp and small rodents would go under it.

Thomas Labedz, Collections Manager

University of Nebraska State Museum

Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A.



From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Watkins-Colwell, Gregory
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2019 1:51 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] compost



Just a quick question to all those who have composted larger specimens for skeletal prep.



I’m wondering if anybody covers the compost pile with something like a tarp or maybe landscape fabric?  What are the pros and cons of doing that?





Greg





****************

Gregory J. Watkins-Colwell

Collection Manager, Herpetology and Ichthyology

Division of Vertebrate Zoology

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

170 Whitney Avenue, Box 208118

New Haven, CT  06520

USA

Main Office: 203-432-3791;  West Campus: 203-737-7568; Fax 203-432-9277



******************





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