FAQs

Do you kill or harm animals?

Absolutely not.  All of my bones, insect wings, and animal remains are ethically sourced. Please see our Ethical Policy for more information.

Where do you get your bones?

The majority of my bones are meticulously dissected from owl pellets.  Larger bones are ethically sourced via donations, surplus from my taxidermy projects, and occasional purchases. Please see our Ethical Policy for more information.

What does "Ethically Sourced" mean?

For me, “Ethically Sourced” means that the animal or insect (from which I am using the bones or parts) was not intentionally killed by a human for the purpose of art, sport, cruelty, or profit. I strongly believe that no part of an animal should go to waste if any parts can be salvaged.

Please be aware that I will occasionally use vintage or craft quality parts that would otherwise be discarded. I also use leftover remains from animals that have been hunted/humanely killed for the purpose of harvesting the meat for food.

Please see our Ethical Policy for more information.

What is an owl pellet?

When an owl is hungry, it will go hunting and devour its prey. Unfortunately, owls don’t have any teeth so instead of chewing their food they take large bites and end up swallowing a lot of indigestible materials. These materials (bones, fur, and feathers) are compacted and regurgitated in the form of a pellet.

What are owl pellets used for?

Pellets are a record of what owls have eaten, and scientists may use them to learn more about the owl and its environment. When kids analyze owl pellets, they can see and identify the tiny bones from that owl's meal; they may also study about the owl's diet and place in the food web.

Are you a taxidermist?

I have a taxidermy license, but I prefer to call myself an artist. Most of my work involves bones, and I only occasionally dabble in the realm of mummification and taxidermy. Perhaps one day, I will perfect my skill to the level that I would feel comfortable using the title of Taxidermist.

Do you have any bat skeletons/skulls?

No, I do not have any bat skeletons or skulls..  The majority of bat skeleton fact and skeletons are imported into the United States and I have yet to find a source that meets my ethical standard. There is a growing movement in the vulture culture community to move away from these imported bat remains due in part because they are not sustainably harvested. I urge you to please do your research before you purchase any bat skeleton/skull/taxidermy specimen.

Do you have any Real bird skeletons/skulls?

I prefer to focus on rodents and small mammals, but I do occasionally work with legal bird remains. The majority of birds fall under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which means their bones, feathers, and parts are illegal in the United States to possess. Not all birds are protected under the treaty.

Do you only sell online?

I sell in person at different craft/art/oddities markets as well as online.

Help! My package smells funny.

Whether it's a bone, a mummified animal part, or a professionally tanned hide, all dead things will have a scent. Due to the way I ship my items (enclosed under multiple layers), the items may appear to have a stronger, more concentrated scent at first. These items will need to air out for a few days in a non-humid environment. Over time the scent should dissipate to be less pungent. Some people may be more sensitive to odors so please keep that in mind while making the decision to order anything involving animal remains. We do not offer refunds, returns, or exchanges.

Care Instructions

Every item that I create is a work of art and should be treated with the utmost care. Most of my work contains real and ethically sourced animal bones that are small and extremely fragile. Many of my items are contained inside of glass bottles or jars, which may break if exposed to extreme temperature changes. The dragon eggs I create are made with real bird eggs and are extremely fragile. Please be very careful about handling, transporting, and storing my works of art. Please keep all items away from moisture, direct sunlight, sources of heat, children, and animals. You are responsible for the safety and well-being of the items purchased. Do not bang, drop, step-on, throw, or otherwise bring about harm to the items.