[Nhcoll-l] Question about large pelt storage

[Hanke, Gavin RBCM:EX]

After a fur vault humidity problem, I am wondering what is the value of intact pelts of large mammals

Researchers take hair samples to examine stable isotopes to evaluate ecology, or snips of skin for DNA, but no one has needed an intact pelt for study. Others have taken 10-20 hairs for scanning electron microscopy to compare to stomach or scat samples. The closest we came was when Ministry of Transport needed to get photos for a Road-Kill ID guide, but the entire pelt was not needed.

Wondering if we should only remove square swatches from future specimens, dry the skin/hair swatches (no chemicals), then store them in large  ziplock bags (with silica gel to control moisture). These bags could be stored on shelves in Durphy Boxes.

It also is inconvenient to tan hides and expensive. Perhaps smaller swatches would be the answer - better for storage, easier to prepare in house and not needing a dedicated cold room.

Cheers and thanks for your thoughts,
Gavin


__________________________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Gavin Hanke   Curator, Vertebrate Zoology | Knowledge
ROYAL BC MUSEUM
Traditional Territory of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations)
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