Preparing Mammal Skulls for Classroom Use

Classroom materials for student use are very expensive to purchase from biological supply houses. In many cases, teachers are left with two choices when it comes to laboratory materials, either find some way to produce their own or do without. Preserved and live specimens fall into this category particularly with respect to the higher vertebrates. While it may be impossible, or at least impractical, to keep a suitable number of birds or mammals, it is possible and may even be preferred to study skins, skeletal and other preserved material. Mammal skulls are easy to collect, prepare and preserve for use in the classroom. Such skulls may be used in a wide variety of lessons and activities and may be handled by the students without the threat of high replacement cost