I have a customer that needs some feet on otters for a project. My normal way to do this is to work the skin off the feet like pulling off a wet sock and then snip off the toes at the last knuckle. Then borax. In my drying room they're ready in 48 to 72 hours. See pic:


However, I have had a fur buyer (that buys a lot of otter) claim that they will slip so he wants the main pad removed.

I can't see how they would slip. Appreciate any knowledgeable insights and/or advice. I've never sent in any to be tanned so I guess I can't know 100%.

Not really an expert, but I've had quite a few lynx, fisher, otter etc tanned. The guy who does them for me tells me that the flesh, fat etc must be removed from the pad, so i am guessing your fur buyer is correct. Luckily for me, he does the work when it comes to the pad. lol

Never had any issue with them slipping doing them the way you describe. This one is just back from the tannery and was skinned out to the last knuckle and then dried.

Thanks rvsask. I just checked in with my buyer and showed hime the same pic. He wanted the pads removed so I guess that's what I'll do.

I wonder if it makes any difference doing them wet or waiting until they're dry and using a a cuticle scissor to remove pads?

Thanks for those pics saskfly!

I might take a screen shot and show him those.

Pads and toes need to be cleaned real well, all fat removed. It is time consuming for me as I do not do a lot but my brother does taxidermy and is pretty quick at it.

Saskfly, how hard did you work at removing fat from pads? I just figure the minimum and boraxing like crazy. Good enough?

Not a lot of fat left after I skin them out. couple scrapes with the scalpel in spots and its good. If they are buying them for the same price, faster to just cut the pad off and and skin out the claws.

The pads on otter are really interesting (ice cleats, I call them) and I can see they would add another degree of interest to a tanned hide.

Sask, did you split the webbing at all?

They won't slip but unless you flesh the pads they will be hard. Unless you are selling them for taxidermy I would remove the heal pad.

Thanks Bruce. The end user for these otters is making arrow quivers so I guess he doesn't want any pads. I don't know how you eliminate the toe pads without losing the claw though.

Not certain about otter toe pads but I did more than a few pelts for taxidermy and know that animals like wolverine had to have every toe pad scraped out. I made a tiny scraper out of a piece of Sheetmetal and taped it to a piece of dowel. It was shaped like a loop, and electrical taped to a short length of 3/8" dowel. Tedious work and had to be very careful not to cut the pad.
It's just like doing bear feet, only in miniature.

If it’s the buyer who gets mine BP, the webbing remains at the very bottom. Pads are removed. Top of feet is all he wants I believe if it’s the guy that buys all mine in Idaho’s auction.

I have a customer ,that explains it's clear. Sure way to make a couple extra i hope. . But I will never skin out feet since the pelts arr fur material and I have yet to see any feet in fur coats..

Thanks Mud. I know who your buyer is...he's the one that doesn't like the little balled up feet like I've done. He claims when he buys ones like that he just cuts the feet off.

Sask, my buyer asked me to ask you who tanned your otter? Thanks!