bear hide slipping

[skeeter@ccia.com]

The hair on 2 bear mounts has started to slip. Could this be due to my taxidermist taking shortcuts on tanning proper? What can be done about it now? The hides are only 2 and 3 yrs old. The outfitter makes sure the hide is rolled as skin to skin with no hair to skin and is frozen asap..... is this correct way to store hides at the outfitters?

[grayghost]

If your Bears are just beginning to shed, and weren't shedding all along, I would suspect Dermestid* Beetles or Moths' have gotten into your mounts. Examine the loose hair at the root section with high magnification. If hair roots are present, it's slipping. If the roots are missing, they have been eaten off at the skin line by insects. Mounts can and should be treated at least every two years by a competent Taxidermist, especially horned game (Sheep, Goats, Antelope etc). If insects are present, you should be able to find evidence: eggs, "sawdust" debris (micro particles of hair and skin), larvae or adults. If none are evident, closely smell your mount for odor. If there is any skin attached to loose hair, then the skin was spoiled at some point, from the kill to the mounting process. Good luck, grayghost
*Dermestid: Ultimately from Greek dermestes, a leather-eating worm, literally, skin eater, from derm- + edmenai to eat. Any of a family (Dermestidae) of beetles with clubbed antennae that are very destructive to organic material of animal origin (as dried meat, wool, or museum specimens)

[Muthagoose]

Unless you are seeing residue from any infestation I would suspect one of 2 things
First could be from the outfitter or hunter--the hide wasnt properly and timely fleshed.Heat and the lack of salt is huge in this stage. I keep a freezer at camp just for hides and dont roll them up till they are chilled.Then hydro flesh them..
2nd it may be from the taxidermist.Lax in care of handleing or tanning,poor fleshing job,to high of PH level.
Do these mounts have a greasy feel to the slipped areas?Are you seeing residueIE bug's droppings? Is there a smell to the mounts?

[skeeter@ccia.com]

I suspect a shortcut in the tanning since they do them themselves. The bear are skinned the very next morning and no salt is applied since they go to the freezor. tks for reply.

[Muthagoose]

Well the "next day" could still be a problem depending on temp. IF you dont spread the hide out in the freezer to "chill" before ya roll it up to freezer your gonna get hot spots and that will cause slipping later.Thick hide,fat and long hair is a good source for heat retension....
Ive gotten where its a non stop event from follow up to pealed,busted up and all in freezers at camp.
So do the slipped spots feel greasy???