From skulls to taxidermy, Harris Center preserves wildlife for education and art

HANCOCK — From a preserved bear cub dating back to the 1800s to carefully maintained animal skulls, bones and pelts, the Harris Center for Conservation Education's natural history collection offers a close-up look at wildlife most people would rarely encounter in the wild. For decades, the Hancock-based conservation organization has used preserved animal specimens to teach students and community members about wildlife anatomy, adaptations and the natural world. This fall, the Harris Center brought part of that collection into a different setting, combining wildlife education with artistic expression. The collection recently served as the centerpiece of Nature on Tap: Skulls & Bones Art Night at Post & Beam Brewing in Peterborough, where wildlife artist Matt Patterson guided participants through drawing animal skulls and bones. Susie Spikol, community programs director and naturalist at the Harris Center, said the collection has long been an important part of the organization's educational programming. "I've been at the Harris Center for over 30 years, and ever since I've been here, we've been using taxidermy from a collection that has changed and grown over the time that they've been here ... as a tool of education," Spikol said. The collection includes preserved animals, skulls, bones and other natural history specimens, some of which have been maintained for more than a century. Among the oldest is a preserved bear cub from the 1800s, which Spikol said can be brought into classrooms when educators are teaching students about bears. The Harris Center also maintains a bear skull, allowing students to examine features of the animal that might otherwise be difficult to observe. Other specimens, including a collection of owls, provide opportunities to examine the physical characteristics that allow different species to survive in their environments. "It's a great way for people to see all of the adaptations of the animal that we're talking about," Spikol said. "A great opportunity for them to work on their identification skills." Unlike a traditional museum, the Harris Center does not maintain its taxidermy collection as a permanent public exhibition. Instead, the specimens are stored and brought out when needed for educational programs. "Our taxidermy collection is not on display, and that's by purpose," Spikol said. "It's not something to come and look at. It's something to really learn from." The specimens are used during classroom visits, community presentations and other educational activities, providing opportunities for participants to observe animals without disturbing living wildlife. Maintaining such a collection, however, requires careful attention to preservation methods, safety and the origins of each specimen. Spikol said the Harris Center follows a no-kill policy, meaning animals are not killed specifically to become part of the collection. Instead, preserved specimens generally originate from animals that have already died, including those killed in vehicle collisions, window strikes or encounters with domestic cats. The organization must also maintain records documenting where specimens came from. When someone offers the Harris Center a deceased animal, staff must document information such as where it was found, who discovered it and, when possible, how it died. Spikol said those records are necessary because the organization must maintain state authorization to possess and use preserved wildlife specimens. That documentation is also part of the responsibility that comes with maintaining a collection of animals that once lived in the wild. Some of the Harris Center's oldest specimens present additional preservation challenges because taxidermy methods have changed considerably over the past century. "Some of them are encased, and they're encased because they were filled with things like arsenic as part of the taxidermy process," she said. As the organization became more aware of the potential risks associated with historical preservation chemicals, some older specimens were enclosed in protective cases so they could continue serving an educational purpose without unnecessary exposure. Modern taxidermy techniques have introduced different materials that can make preservation safer and more practical. In earlier generations, taxidermists often built animal forms using wire, sawdust and cloth, which could require chemical treatments to prevent deterioration. Today, commercially manufactured forms can be used to recreate an animal's body shape beneath its preserved skin. Spikol said the Harris Center's newer taxidermy mounts take advantage of these modern methods. The organization has also begun replacing some real animal skulls used in classroom programs with replicas. Although original specimens remain valuable, replicas are often better suited to frequent transportation and handling, especially when working with groups of students. Spikol said the replicas withstand repeated use and are easier to replace if damaged. Despite those practical challenges, the collection remains an important resource for the Harris Center. "I would say it's a really important learning tool that the Harris Center has that other places might not," Spikol said. "We call it kind of our treasure, and we respect it a lot because ... these are animals that were once alive and wild." That respect for the collection recently extended into a Halloween-inspired art program, part of the Harris Center's Nature on Tap series, which brings nature-themed discussions and activities into local establishments. Past programs have explored unusual subjects, including the military's historical consideration of using bats to carry explosives during World War II and animals whose behavior can be altered by fungi or parasites. Spikol said Halloween provides an opportunity to explore the stranger, sometimes unsettling aspects of the natural world. This year, rather than organizing another lecture, staff invited participants to spend time observing and drawing animal skulls and bones from the collection. Patterson, a New Ipswich native and wildlife illustrator, is known for his detailed and realistic artwork. His illustrations have appeared in books by naturalist and author Sy Montgomery, including "The Book of Turtles" and "The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle." His wildlife illustrations have also received national and international recognition, including the Roger Tory Peterson Wild America Art Award. Spikol said the event offered a different way for people to connect with natural history materials that are typically used in educational settings. "We just thought it would be really fun to have this opportunity to spend time with these kind of treasures, these nature treasures, and with Matt," she said. "It seemed like a perfect timing to fit with Halloween." The program also highlights the Harris Center's ongoing partnership with Post & Beam Brewing, which regularly hosts the organization's Nature on Tap activities. Spikol said the brewery has been receptive to different educational ideas, from art workshops to nature-themed trivia competitions. The Harris Center is also planning another nature trivia takeover at the brewery on Jan. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m.