Red Heat in Taxidermy: Causes, Prevention & Skin Preparation
7 Oct 2026
Red Heat occurs when bacteria break down the collagen in an animal’s skin, causing the hair follicles to deteriorate. The result can be hairslip, and a hard, brittle skin with a distinctive pinkish colour.
In this week’s Taxidermy Truths, Doug unpacks the science behind Red Heat and, more importantly, the practical steps you can take to prevent it.
From the role of salt, airflow and heat management to the correct techniques and timeframes for salting - Doug shares practical insights to help you protect your skins and create the best possible canvas for taxidermy.
The quality of a mount starts long before it reaches the studio. Correct skin preparation is critical to ensuring your taxidermy is a beautiful representation of your animal.
