What should I do with a deceased animal to prepare it for taxidermy? +

Deceased animals should be bagged and frozen as soon as possible to avoid decomposition. Place the animal in a sealed ziplock or plastic bag. It can stay in the freezer indefinitely until you are ready to make arrangements with us to drop it off or overnight ship it to the taxidermy studio.

Will you taxidermy my dog/cat/pet?+

We do not work on dogs or cats at this time, but we do taxidermy other small pets for people quite often. For dogs and cats, we recommend you call Buckshot Taxidermy in Sussex, NJ. We often provide dog and cat transportation services from the NYC area to Buckshot Taxidermy for a fee. All animals must be frozen as soon as possible after passing away to avoid decomposition.

Are any birds or other animals illegal to taxidermy? +

Yes, many birds are illegal for us to taxidermy for commerical work or for clients who do not have federal paperwork in hand. The Migratory Bird Act protects all migratory birds, songbirds, birds of prey, and scavengers. This law makes it a illegal to taxidermy or possess these birds in any capacity, no matter how the animal passed away or was found. It is a federal offense to be in possession of a single feather of these birds in the United States unless you are a specialized educational institution like a university research facility or natural history museum with the proper federal permits in hand to use the bird for scientific or educational purposes. This is a federal, nation-wide law. Likewise, laws on certain animals vary from state to state, so please check with your state laws if you are not sure. We have copy/pasted some info below:

The Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) all regulate and afford protection to thousands of plant and animal species that are federally listed as threatened or endangered. This includes: migratory birds, songbirds, hawks, owls, eagles, vultures, buzzards, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, polar bears, walrus, manatees, sea otters, whales, elephants, coral, and thousands more. This also includes ivory, skulls, fur coats, rugs, and anything derived of protected species' parts. If you find a deceased animal, skull, or single feather of a protected species, it's best to leave it be; it's illegal to have any part of it in your possession. These law are no joke – fines can run up to $100,000 and a year of jail time for individuals and much more for organizations. With respect to these laws and the welfare of these species, we will never risk working on or being in possesion of any of them.

As for the state of New York, the following cannot be bought or sold in NY: Leopard, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Cheetah, Alligators, Caiman or Crocodile of the Order Crocodylia, tortoises of the genus Gopherus, marine turtles of the family Cheloniidae and the family Dermochelidae, Vicuna, Wolf, Red Wolf, Kangaroo, Polar Bear, Mountain Lion, Cougar, Jaguar, Ocelot, Margay, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Black Rhinoceros.

Where do the animals come from? +

Depending on the circumstances, the pieces are variously sourced from deceased feeder animals for pet snakes, lizards and similar pets or zoo animals, butcher/sustenance remains, discarded livestock, utilized roadkill, destroyed nuisance animals (NYC does not allow exterminators or pest control businesses to catch and release), repurposed vintage pieces, deceased pets, donated animals that died of natural causes, and various other sources.

Can I donate deceased specimens to your studio? +

Sometimes! As long as they are legal and are in suitable condition. Animals should be bagged and frozen ASAP to avoid decomposition. Use our CONTACT page to reach out to us.

Do you do custom work/commissions, repairs/cleanings, and rentals? +

Yes, we often clean, repair, restore, and refresh existing taxidermy. Feel free to use our CONTACT page to reach out, or better yet, email us and include pics of your piece for expedite getting a price quote. Please note that there is a $100 minimum for all services. Likewise, we have a $100 minimum on rentals, and require a deposit of the full price of the item(s). Some of our available pieces can be found on our SHOP pages.

Can I visit the taxidermy studio just to browse? +

We are a private art studio, not a storefront. This means we are not open to the public; we are available by appointment only for business purposes only. Please email us to make an appointment if you're in need of a rental, purchase, or for dropoff/pickup. We participate in Greenpoint Open Studios and have the studio open to the public about twice a year for those wanting to come browse and see the space. The best way to be notifiied of these happenings is to follow us on our Instagram, Facebook, and our quarterly E-mail mailing list.

Can I take a class not offered on your CLASSES page? +

We do not allow BYOA (bring your own animal) to taxidermy classes. If you wish to take a class on a specific animal not offered on our CLASSES page, we highly recommend first taking classes we regularly offer. Our classes have been thoughtfully chosen to be beginner- friendly. Once you've gotten a hang of the basics, we many be able to accomodate private lessons with specimens not offered on the CLASSES page.

Can I interview you for my homework/class/school coursework? +

Thank you for your interest in what we do! We welcome all press inquiries from legitimate media outlets. Unfortunately, we don't have time to help students with assignments. You can email us with questions and we will try to have someone get back to you if time allows. You are welcome to use any of the info and images on our site in your coursework, as long as we are properly quoted and credited. Text, photos, etc can be attributed to Amber Maykut and/or Brooklyn Taxidermy, with the exception of photos of the taxidermy studio, which should be creditd to photographer Sheila Barabad. Feel free to send us your completed essay or article, we'd love to see it!

Can I intern, apprentice, or volunteer at the taxidermy studio? +

All are welcome to email us a resume and cover letter if interested in helping out at the studio, however we highly recommend you take some classes at the studio to become familiar with us, the space, and our practices rather than blindly reaching out. When we are actively looking for help, we announce it on our social media outlets: Instagram, Facebook, and our quartlerly E-mail mailing list. Almost all of our paid studio assistants began as students.

How old do I have to be to take a class? +

Students age 13 and up are welcome to take classes, however those under age 18 must be dropped off by a parent or guardian to give in-person consent. Please note any non-paying people (family members, etc.) are not permitted in the studio during the lesson. Some younger students (under age 13) can be given private mounting lessons (the specimen will be skinned ahead of time or we can demonstrate the skinning portion of the lesson so they do not handle any scalpels or potentially dangerous tools).

What is ethical taxidermy? +

Ethics are related to morals and principles, so everyone's ethics are different. The term ethical taxidermy is generally used to imply that animals are not harmed or killed for the sake of taxidermy.

Can I cancel or reschedule a class? +

We have a strict cancellation policy. There are no refunds for classes. If you need to reschedule an upcoming class, it must be 48 hours or more before the class start time, and there is a $50 rescheduling fee that can be paid for via our CLASSES page. After paying to reschedule, email us with the class date you wish to join. Please note you can only join classes with seat availablity. There is absolutely no rescheduling for no-shows to classes or students who can cannot attend last minute.

Can you come teach a class in my city? +

Perhaps! Use our Contact page to reach out to us with details.