How to Preserve Rattle Snake Skin

How to Preserve Rattle Snake Skin. Snakes are known for shedding their skin regularly, as this promotes growth and gives their bodies a healthy sheen. Shed snake skin can be a decorative item for snake enthusiasts, particularly rattlesnake skin, which can be found all throughout the Southwest. There are two types of rattlesnake skins: the aforementioned skin that the snake shed itself and decorative skin that a skinner removed from the snake. Preserving rattlesnake skin for decorative purposes is a fairly easy task depending on how you wish to display it.

Things Needed

• Poster board
• Jar of water
• Pins
• Scissors
• Antifreeze
• Paint brush
• Picture frame

Preserving Shed Skin

Step 1

Place the shed skin in a jar of water for around an hour. This will clean off any dirt or debris.

Step 2

Remove the skin from the jar and stretch it across a thin piece of poster board.

Step 3

Pin the snake skin to the board, putting a single pin on each end.

Step 4

Set the skin outside under the sun to dry for a few hours.

Step 5

Cut the poster board around the snake skin and place it in a picture frame for display.

Preserving Skinned Skin

Step 1

Lay the skin across a poster board, stretching it out.

Step 2

Pin it down against the poster board using the pins.

Step 3

Slather a light coat of antifreeze over the skin with the paintbrush and allow it to dry for a few hours.

Step 4

Display the skin either in a picture frame or against felt for hanging.

Warnings

• If you have cats or dogs, do not allow them to eat the antifreeze-coated skin, as this can be fatal. Keep the skin out of reach of any pets or when drying it out.
• Do not use salt to preserve the skin, it will destroy it.

References

• Rattlesnake Recipes: How to Preserve Rattlesnake Skin