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Toxic Taxidermy Animals Find Forever Homes

An aging taxidermy menagerie in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that had been taken away from public view after testing found potentially hazardous levels of arsenic present in 80% of the specimens finally has a future. That’s because the town’s city council unanimously approved a resolution this week to donate the mounts to several institutions that will be able to exhibit them in ways that are safe for visitors.

The taxidermy animals have a long history in Sioux Falls. The collection was built by local businessman and hunter Henry Brockhouse, who displayed the animal collection in his hardware store for many years until he died in 1978. The hardware store’s new owners donated the collection to the city, and it became a featured exhibit at the Delbridge Museum of Natural History at the Great Plains Zoo for four decades.

According to officials, the arsenic doesn’t mean that the animals cannot be displayed. There are simply precautions such as putting the pieces behind glass that can allow them to be observed safely. The council’s resolution “ensures that none of the collection will be disposed of, and all items will be put to good use by reputable natural history institutions,” according to Sioux Falls Director of Parks & Recreation Don Kearney. The three institutions that will be gifted parts of the collection are the University of Notre Dame Museum of Biodiversity, the Oddities Museum Inc. in Atlanta, and the Institute for Natural History Arts Inc. in New Jersey.

Arsenic soap (a combination of soap, arsenic camphor, potash, alcohol, and water) was commonly used in the taxidermy process from the late 19th century up until the 1980s. When applied to the inner side of animal skins, it was effective at preventing insect damage and bio-deterioration from humidity and other factors. Arsenic powder was also sometimes used to treat feathers and fur. It is practically impossible to fully decontaminate taxidermy animals treated with arsenic, which means that most museums keep arsenic-treated materials behind glass, which can protect them from temperature and humidity fluctuations while also keeping visitors safe.

This segment originally appeared in today's edition of the Morning Brief newsletter. Sign up here to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists.

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s weekday newsletter.