Mole bones.

In October last year I found this dead mole in our yard. As I mentioned in that previous post, I burried it to dig up the bones later, and this is just what I did a few weeks back!

I know some of you are totally freaked out by this so this is the moment where you close this window! (Or scroll down quickly to see some nice clean bones.)







Unfortunately, the mole wasn't completely decomposed when I dug it up. Mostly, but not quite all of it. But as I am the most impatient person on the planet, and not that easily digusted, I just got some tweezers and took out the bones anyway. The pictures above may look pretty nasty to you, but I can assure you that most of the black stuff is just good old regular dirt. Not that disgusting at all. It didn't even smell! I had so much fun doing this, I am extremely fascinated with anatomy and I learned so much from this experience! I can't wait to do it again.





When I got the bones out and had soaked them in some denatured ethanol, I boiled them for an hour or so in some water with soft soap. Unfortunately this is the moment where the little skull broke and some teeth got lost.





After this I soaked them in some more denaturated ethanol and put them in a little weck jar with water, where I left them for a week or so.





And here they are, clean as a whistle! It's so weird that this is all that is left of that pretty big mole. I think it was about 17cm/6.7inch? Mostly fat I guess!













Aren't they amazing? I am absolutely smitten. Especially that little skull and those teeth! Can you believe there was actually some little creature 'using' these?! So unbelievably fascinating.

You can see all pictures here.
Do any of you have experience with bones and/or taxidermy? I would lóve to hear about it!

♥ Anne