Mold on head of a turkey mount under glass

[bowhuntingdad]

The question I have is there anything else my wife can do to prevent further damage to the head. She called the taxidermist with the problem and was told to pick up the corner of the glass and prop it open to let air ventilate. I've talked to one of my soldiers who is a taxidermist by trade and he said it looks like the head was not freeze dried properly and that it would have to be removed and redone. I know it will be fixed but i will not be able to take it up to the taxidermist until i get back in Dec. of this year. Is there anything else my wife can do to prevent the growth of the mold long enough until i get back. The taxidermist said they would stop by the next time down our way but with gas prices being the way they are I'm not expecting a 250 mile round trip from that person to pick up my bird. I tried to post a photo but still new to the form and not a real big computer guy.

[jgrimm]

Try some moth balls.

[bowhuntingdad]

I'll have her put some around the ventilation opening she made by proping up the corner, thanks jgimm, I'll let you know if it works.

[hoosiertaxidermist]

If you have mold on the outside of any mnt.,you will probably have mold inside also. If anything is going to be sealed, it would be a freeze-dried head after painting since the paint will tend to seal the skin of the head. I would definately be taking a look at the belly area of the bird for any sign of damage that may have or is taking place. If the head wasn't completly drie when the taxi. started to work wit it, they should have been able to see or feel it as it would have had some soft spots in it. The mold has probably traveled from inside the skin of the body to the exterior because the skin was not prepped properly before ntg. If the taxi. left any moisture in the feathers after mntg., it could take many weeks in very dry conditions to completely dry out once the feathers are placed during mntg. as they tend to seal the skin from outside air influence. Sounds like the bird was placed in the case before either it or the habitat were completely dry also, and was subjected to long term moisture. I would suggest removing the glass and allowing free air circulation around the bird. Mothballs are only good to help repel any type of pest intrusion into the case. I place a couple in any case that we sell to prevent even a remote chance of problems. Cracking the case a little bit will not remove the moisture fast enough and will allow further degradation of you mnt. I would get this problem bird back to the guy responsible for the mntg. and make sure he fixes-and explains how he did it- the problem(even if it requires replacing the skin and rekounting the specimen. Good luck.

[bowhuntingdad]

Thanks HT, I'll see if she can get the glass off the next time she has a friend over to help her. Now if the cat gets a hold of my mount then I will be hunting season on the cat when i get home. But with all that you said it makes since, we have only had the mount back for 4 months.