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Do you think it's safe to handle bones of dead things found in the wild?


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We went on a nature walk over the weekend and found a bunch of small bones (and one large fang!). Of course the girls had their hands all over them before I noticed, but we were careful with our hands until we got home and washed them well. We did collect one in a bag as a specimen though. The bones are bleached and dry and clean of any, er, matter. Is there a safe way to handle them?

 

TIA!

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When I was in the hospital recovering from bypass surgery, one of the surgeons and I got to talking about finding bones of dead animals. He said his wife, who is also a scientist, collects skulls of dead animals she finds.

 

No matter what condition a skull is in, he told me she boils them before she handles them.

 

Then she mounts them for her collection. I guess if they fall apart after she boils them, she just glues them together.

 

RC

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we always just pick them up. My kids have collections of bones, teeth, snake skins, old bottles etc, etc.

I have never worried about them handling them at all. they always wash their hands afterwards.

we live in a rural area, and the kids always help with butchering the animals etc.

 

just yesterday they were having a cow manure war. I said cow manure?? maybe you should all get changed. their response way " why, it is just partially digested grass" I made them change anyway!

 

MelissaL

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They are fine to handle once disinfected.... BUT, random bones in the wilderness aren't always safe to touch. There can be diseases or parasites that can be passed to humans. I'd use gardening gloves to pick up the bones, then wash them with bleach afterwards.

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