So on an otter, persay, I know the claws, baculum and teeth can be sold. This may be a dumb question but are the teeth sold individually? Or still in the jaw bones? For the baculum should I boil it to remove the flesh or what's the best way to clean it up. Probably can't sell the skull whole since it has a bullet hole in it. Thanks in advance.

The teeth that have value are the 4 canine teeth on animals such as otter, coyotes, etc or the 4 incisor teeth on animals like beaver and muskrat. They should be removed from the skull by either simmering or rotting until they are loose and pull out easily. The whole tooth needs to be there. You can't just cut them off at the gum line. Once exacted and cleaned, they should be stored in mineral oil or baby oil to prevent cracking. Only good teeth are wanted. Broken or damaged or worn teeth have no value.

If the entire lower jaw is intact and undamaged and has all good teeth, it can be sold as a jaw. You do not remove the teeth on a jaw you are going to sell.

Claws should be cut off at the knuckle. Leave the bone in, remove skin and flesh and dry. As the claw dries, the sheath of the claw will contract around the bone.

The baculum should be simmered until the meat falls off. Then clean the bone with warm water and soap, give it short soak in peroxide and then dry.

Thanks... as for storing the dried claws and baculum, can I just store them in a container or what's the best way to go about it. Thanks.

I think what wissmiss wanted to say was "You can't just cut them off at the gum line". [b][/b]

Anyway, sell your teeth and claws and pelts, but save up all your bacula for forty years and do something cool with them...

After simmering the baculum, drink the water. Better than Viagra, I hear!
Nice wood, Gulo!

That is really cool!

Gulo is absolutely right about NOT cutting the tooth off at the gum line. Sometimes the computer thinks for itself. Thanks for the correction.

That is an awesome coffee table. How many bones and how many different species? I'm assuming you know without having to count them right now,

Once they are thoroughly dry, just store in a box or paper bag. If you store them in plastic, check once in awhile to make sure there isn't any mold.

If you are going to save teeth and claws from various species, you should keep them separate and label each container. Saves the buyer time if/when you get ready to sell them. Baculum can be stored together - it is easy to tell them apart - each species is unique in its shape.

ALL the teeth have some value. Yes, canines more then the others for the Otter but the incisors and molars are still used to make jewelry.
Ted

wissmiss -

The pecker table has 517 bacula and one baubellum (look that one up) from a black bear. There are 14 species represented. I have another 1000+ bacula and need to come up with another project...

Jack

Thats truely a one of a kind coffee Table!!! Cool!!!

The definition of a baubellum is definitely the strangest thing I have learned this year. Now I just have to figure out how to share my new knowledge during a polite conversation.

Keith

Get some good curved ones cause they will " hold the olive " in the Dry martini.

Hey Gulo are the table legs made with some walrus baculum.......should be a 4 foot high table then.
Saw a good example of one that was "broken" bent , major problem when getting up on an ice flow.

Trapperman folks are an amazing group of people. I learned something new today.

I have a baubellum from a black bear. I thought it was an anatomical anomaly; didn't know there was a word for it! Thanks for broadening my horizons this morning Jack!

Pete

Gulo... That's an awesome table... And a conversation piece! The baubellum is an interesting one... Who knew?