Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

The Work

A Taxidermist is a highly skilled craft person, usually with an in-depth knowledge of natural history, anatomy and wildlife.

Taxidermists work to produce sculptural representations of animals for display and to preserve damaged specimens.

Taxidermy has comes from the Greek “taxis” meaning movement and “derma” meaning skin. This is because Taxidermists sometimes remove the animal’s natural skin and replace it with man-made materials to make it appear lifelike. Taxidermists may also preserve the animal’s skin, feathers, fur, or scales to be mounted over an artificial skeleton or armature.

Taxidermists may specialise in one of the main animal groups: mammals, reptiles, fish or birds, each of which requires different techniques. Fish are generally thought to be the hardest to reconstruct, especially because their scales lose their colour as they dry. Fish taxidermists must be deft and highly skilled painters.

In the UK, Taxidermy is regulated under strict laws and most animals that find their way to the taxidermist’s workshop are found dead on the road. Taxidermists will not work with illegally killed animals and will ask collectors to provide a proof of the animal’s origin and of the circumstances of its death.

Taxidermists may also specialise in restoring antique specimens, working with museums, local authorities and collectors to provide identification, authenticity and valuation services, as well as licensing and legal advice.

Taxidermists can be employed by national history museums, scientific companies, private organisations, or they may be self-employed.

Taxidermists may also hire out their specimens to the props department of a film, TV or theatre production. 

Tasks

• Recording information about the circumstances of the animal’s death, its scientific name and habitat
• Freesing specimens in appropriate conditions, for example in sealed bags
• Studying the natural pose of the animal
• Using power tools, scissors, scalpels and other cutting instruments to remove the hide from the body
• Tanning, de-greasing and preserving the specimen’s skin
• Making the body’s armature using moulding, casting and other techniques
• Choosing appropriate materials for the armature, for example wood, polyurethane foam, steel rods, plastic, fibreglass or papier mâché
• Making artificial parts such as eyes, eyelids, skull, fish scales, etc.
• Adding the skin and all the parts to the armature
• Placing the reconstruction on a mount
• Adding finishing touches such as a natural backdrop
• Holding a licence to keep certain types of animals
• Staying informed of current legislation concerning the use of dead animals
• Respecting health and safety regulations

Knowledge and Skills

• Artistic skills to render life-like representations of animals using photographs as references
• Knowledge of animal form, coloring and fur/scale/feather texture
• Administrative and marketing skills for operating a taxidermy business

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
• Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
• Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
• Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
• Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, sise, malleability and other characteristics.
• Advertise products and work, using media such as internet advertising and brochures.
• Set specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
• Plan and attend craft shows to market products.
• Create prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.
• Confer with customers to assess customer needs or obtain feedback.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Academic subjects which will help you enter the profession include biology, anatomy, wildlife, art and design.

Skills were traditionally learnt through apprenticeship with an experienced taxidermist. It is also possible to take short courses to further your skills, topics for which include legal issues, anatomy, preparation of the specimens, armature-making and finishing techniques.

Local and national museums such as the Natural History Museum or the Zoology departments of major universities are among the main contractors. While they may traditionally have employed a taxidermist, there are currently no in-house taxidermists in Ireland. This work is more typically outsourced and commissioned to private practitioners.

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €52k

Salaries vary by employment type, location, role, duties, and conditions. Salary rates can be by product or project, on a sessional basis, or via self employ.

Data Source(s):
Eirieri/ Glassdoor/ Indeed/ Payscale/ DEASP

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The five-year annual average employment growth rate was below average for this occupation, although there was an increase of over 2,000 persons employed between 2021 and 2022. As the Census data indicates, there are a large number of roles within this group, with many employing fewer than 1,000 persons. Between 2016 and 2022, employment levels fell for many of these roles.

Despite the decline in employment evident in the Census data, the Skills for Growth data indicates issues with recruitment of upholsterers for both the industry and retail (repair) sectors; upholsterers also appeared in the DSP Jobs Ireland vacancy data (albeit in small numbers), along with spray painters (included in the other skilled trades n.e.c. category). Although demand for many of these trades have declined in recent years, an increased focus on the circular economy may see increased demand, or at least slow the decline for roles such as upholsterers and tailors.

• Taxidermy Association Of Ireland

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