To tan a squirrel hide with hair, you must first wash the animal’s hide to remove alkali solution. Next, you must soak the hide in a tanning solution. This process can take two to three days. Work the hide while it is still damp to soften and make it pliable. Native Americans would chew on the animal’s hide to soften it. If you don’t have sharp teeth, do not try this.
wringing out a squirrel hide
The first step to wringing out a squirrel hide is to soak it in water for about 15 minutes. Make sure it doesn’t get too wet or too hard, or you’ll end up with a hide that looks like a board! The next step is to squeeze the hide out of the dressing solution and place it into a separate container. If you have two people, you can alternate the wringing out process.
Another option for tannable hides is to soak it in a salt bath. You’ll need at least a gallon of water to immerse the hide, but don’t use too much. You’ll need to mix half a pound of table salt per gallon of water. Be sure to use hot water to dissolve the salt, but make sure to stir well before adding it to the hide. Let it sit in the salt bath for at least six to eight hours.
Washing alkali solution from a squirrel hide
The first step in washing your squirrel’s hide is to remove any hair on the surface. This is a crucial step, as any remaining hair will make the rest of the tanning process harder. While the easiest way to do this is in a stream, most of us don’t have this luxury. Therefore, we wash our hides in buckets or large containers. After soaking them for 15 to 20 minutes, they should be slightly acidic to neutral.
To clean the hide, you can make a solution of half alum and half soda, without salting it. You can also mix one bar of laundry soap with six ounces of lead or arsenic, and apply it to the hide. Leave the hide overnight to let the mixture do its work. Now, you’re ready to clean your hide. We recommend using a mild detergent, such as Blue Dawn, to remove hair.
Soaking a squirrel hide in a tanning solution
To tan a squirrel hide, first make a paste of Borax and water and apply it to the pelts. You can use rubber gloves and gently rubbed the paste into the hide. Leave it on overnight and scrape off the residue the next day. Then, take a comb and work out any mats. For best results, use a comb that works with the texture of the fur side of the hide.
If you want a lighter tan, use coconut oil or olive or almond oil instead of rock salt. You can also use a solution of one cup of non-iodized salt. This salt does not contain iodine and should not be used to tan a light-colored animal. It will not take more than 48 hours for a light-skinned squirrel to become tan.
Putting a squirrel hide in a room
Put a squirrel hide with hair on in whichever room you’re trying to keep squirrels out of. Squirrels are not naturally aggressive animals, but they will bite or scratch if they feel threatened. The bite or scratch could even become infected, and this could lead to the transmission of viral diseases. Squirrels will usually avoid homes that have a lot of human activity and, therefore, do not want to nest in a place that is too dangerous for them.
To keep the hide from being destroyed by rats or other pests, you should keep it in a cool, dark place, but not in the room where it’s displayed. You should also keep it in a dry room, preferably a basement or shed, so that no animals will come to get it. Once it is dry, you can put it on display in a room or garage.
Stabbing a squirrel hide
To make rawhide from a squirrel, you must first skin the animal. Cut along the center of the tail and belly, but avoid the genitals. When cutting along the sides of the tail, be very careful because you could damage internal organs. You must also cut slowly around the underside of the forearms and legs. Make sure to place the skull in a separate plastic container and keep it out of reach of dogs.
A butter knife works best for scraping off the fat from the hide. A pocketknife should be used with care because small cuts may ruin the hide or even punch through it during staking. To scrape the hide, start from the head area and proceed to the sides. This will ensure that the squirrel dies instantly and that the meat and fur are still preserved. It is best to make a 90′ angle to the hide.
What is the best way to tan a squirrel hide with hair on?
The best way to tan a squirrel hide with hair on is to use alum.
How do you use alum to tan a squirrel hide?
You use alum by soaking the hide in a solution of alum and water.
What is the ratio of alum to water that you should use?
The ratio of alum to water that you should use is 1 part alum to 5 parts water.
How long should you soak the hide in the alum solution?
You should soak the hide in the alum solution for 24 hours.
How do you remove the hide from the alum solution?
You remove the hide from the alum solution by taking it out and rinsing it off with clean water.
How do you dry the hide?
You dry the hide by hanging it up in a well-ventilated area.
What do you do next?
After the hide is dry you put it in a pickling solution.
What is the pickling solution?
The pickling solution is a mixture of salt and water.
What is the ratio of salt to water that you should use?
The ratio of salt to water that you should use is 1 part salt to 5 parts water.
How long should you soak the hide in the pickling solution?
You should soak the hide in the pickling solution for 24 hours.
How do you remove the hide from the pickling solution?
You remove the hide from the pickling solution by taking it out and rinsing it off with clean water.
How do you dry the hide?
You dry the hide by hanging it up in a well-ventilated area.
What do you do next?
After the hide is dry you put it in a tanning solution.
What is the tanning solution?
The tanning solution is a mixture of alum and water.
What is the ratio of alum to water that you should use?
The ratio of alum to water that you should use is 1 part alum to 5 parts water.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
