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BADGERHEAD SPORRANS
By Major C F R Buchanan
The Badgerhead Sporran, so long a traditional item of dress of
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, is still very much in
demand by the Officers and Sergeants of both regular and TA
units. The obtaining and processing of the skins and the making of
the sporrans are a lengthy process. The successful completion of
the latter, is inevitably dependent upon the supply and processing
of the former. In this matter customers can be of help and indeed
frequently are ? first, by finding a dead badger, then getting it to the
tanner, in good condition.
Snowdonia Taxidermy Studios of Llanrwst, North Wales, who
have been involved in the preparation of such skins for many
years, offer the following guidelines, which will answer many of
the queries they often receive from clients, and will hopefully
avoid the disappointment of a ?failed mission?.
The most common occurrence of a ?dead badger? is a road casualty,
often during the night or early morning. Frequently the animal
is just ?clipped? by a passing vehicle and will suffer a head injury,
which will kill it cleanly and instantaneously. Further damage may
be caused if the animal is left on the road and is mangled by subsequent
traffic. On remote roads in the countryside the animal
may lie dead for hours, sometimes days, before it is destroyed
beyond being of use. We always regret that these animals are killed
on our roads, but if we can make use of them for Taxidermy or
Sporrans, the badger can still be admired.
What should you do following your first impulse to pick the badger
up? Assuming you have a bin liner or other receptacle to put
it in ? you have pacified your wife and child in the car with you
that the badger is dead and safe to pick up and that it will not
smell! ? none of which you can actually be sure of whilst you are
in the car, SO....
Put your ?flasher warning lights? on, examine the dead animal,
firstly by moving it with your foot (just in case). The temperature
of the carcass from cold to warm, felt with the back of the
hand, may give some indication as to how long the animal has
been dead.
Absence of one or both eyes will indicate the crows have already
done the previous tests for you. During winter months in very cold
conditions a dead animal may be suitable for recovery for 3-4 days.
During the summer months, longer than 24 hours will be risky.
Putrefaction will usually commence around the stomach and anal
regions following expansion of the gut with gas. Purple coloured
skin in the stomach area between the hind legs, indicates some
putrefaction has commenced. Pull at some of the hair in these areas
? if it comes off with surface skin, and has an accompanying rotting
smell, then abandon the project. Likewise, maggots (as distinct from
fly eggs in and around the mouth, nose and eyes), one sign that the
objectives are in jeopardy. (Previous assurances to the family re
objectionable smells will not stand up to credibility on a 15 mile
homeward journey on a hot day!).
Having recovered the animal you should immediately report
your find to the local Police, giving time and place of find, road
number, etc. You should diary the officer to whom you reported
the find, with the same details. This will cover you, so that if you
should have any enquiries in the future, relating to the dead animal,
you can verify that you obtained it legitimately. (We would
also require this information too, for our records). The casualty
may have already been reported to the local Badger Watch group
or other conservation organisation.
When you arrive at your destination, it is advisable to lay the
animal on the ground and wash off any blood or insect infestation
with a garden hose, using COLD water. Put the entire carcass in a
strong polythene bag, seal it and Deep Freeze it. Telephone
Snowdonia Taxidermy Studios, who will advise you how and when
to despatch it, or will arrange collection. Either way you will need
to pack securely.
PACKING THE ANIMAL
You should acquire a strong cardboard container of adequate
size to hold the badger and not less than 2? of insulation material
all around. This may comprise of polystyrene granules, crumpled
newspaper, etc. Pack tightly. Pack immediately before sending or
collection. You must mark the package PERISHABLE ? URGENT
in several places and send by 24 hour or overnight delivery service.
Remember it is an offence to despatch ?NOXIOUS? material by
post. Not all carriers will collect either.
If you have a friend or colleague who has some experience of
skinning animals, it may be skinned by incising the body on the
stomach side, from throat to anus. The head should be left
unskinned and the feet left on the skin, if you should require
them incorporated in the Sporran. After skinning, the skin
should be washed in COLD water, drained and frozen, as for the
whole animal.
FINALLY, do not forget to enclose your own details and the name
and address of your preferred Sporran Maker. You will receive an
invoice from Snowdonia Taxidermy Studios for the preparing and
tanning of the skin. Upon payment of the invoice, the skin will be
despatched to the Sporran maker, who will render their own
account for the work done. We will look forward to being of future
service in upholding the traditions of the Regimental Dress. All
enquiries to Dorothy Reid, Snowdonia Taxidermy Studios.
Telephone: 01492 640664. Fax: 01492 641643.
And here's a photo of the completed article, from this web site:
http://www.theargylls.co.uk/dress.php
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