Latest news with #taxidermy
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
After 103 years, this L.A. prop maker finds new success freeze-drying dead pets
In a room inside a North Hollywood warehouse, dozens of pets are ready for their owners to take them home. Boots, a young black-and-white domestic shorthair cat, lies on his back, pawing playfully at the air. A trio of red, yellow and green parrots and cockatiels sit on wooden perches, oblivious to the piercing stare of a blue-eyed feline a few feet away. Princess, a senior Chihuahua, rests with her eyes closed and body curled into a tight cocoon, as a frenetic hamster named Ponby stands upright, his eyes bulging. There's a naked guinea pig, a giant red macaw and an adorably chunky pit bull named Messy. All of these animals are loose, liberated from the confines of cages and leashes, and yet no havoc has ensued. These animals are also all dead. It's an everyday scene at Bischoff's the Animal Kingdom, a Los Angeles taxidermy business that has been preserving animals for 103 years. The business is multifold — Bischoff's creates and rents out prop animals to film studios, museums and nature centers. Posters on the lobby walls boast the company's work on shows like 'American Horror Story' and 'Westworld.' But in recent years, a bulk of its taxidermy requests now come from bereaved pet owners, those willing to shell out thousands of dollars for a tangible commemoration of their late "fur babies.' From full-body taxidermy to partial mementos — skulls, bronzed hearts or freeze-dried paws, for example — such services provide closure in ways that, clients say, traditional burials or urns cannot. 'It was honestly really comforting to have her back, and just be able to touch her and, in a sense, talk to her too,' said Bischoff's customer Zoe Hays of the preservation of her Chihuahua-Yorkie mix Pixie. 'She was a great little dog — also a menace to society, for sure — but she's still with me, and she always will be.' Read more: This superfan is buying VHS copies of 'The Mummy.' The size of his collection is shocking Bodily preservation, beyond the ashes or cemented paw prints offered by veterinarians and animal hospitals, has become a growing facet in the world of pet aftercare, with traditional taxidermists fulfilling many of the niche requests. Redlands business Precious Creature initially only offered full-body taxidermy of pets until customers started suggesting other ideas, such as lockets containing patches of fur and cat-tail necklaces. (Most recently, owner Lauren Kane sewed a zippered pillowcase using the black-and-white fur of a rescue named G-Dog, or, as his owner fondly called him, "Fluffy Butt.") In her documentary "Furever," filmmaker Amy Finkel explores the lengths to which pet preservationists will go, asking, "Who decides what kind of grief is acceptable, or appropriate?" Ace Alexander, 40, and Rey Macias, 55, the fourth owners in Bischoff's long history, have steered the company to meet the new demand. Describing each other as 'good friends,' the two men dress similarly in unofficial uniforms of black T-shirts and black pants, and they're so in sync they sometimes finish each other's thoughts. Since taking over the business, both have transitioned to primarily vegan diets. 'Bischoff's used to be taxidermists to the stars in the trophy era, but now we're taxidermists in the pet preservation era,' Alexander said. 'People no longer hunt. Now they just love their pets.' In 1922, when Al Bischoff first opened the business on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, he'd stuff and plaster any animal brought to him. Most of the time, that meant trophies from hunting and safari trips, but it also included beloved pets owned by Hollywood elite. Roy Rogers used Bischoff's to preserve his co-stars Trigger the horse and Bullet the dog. Buck — the dog from 'Married with Children' — also got the Bischoff's treatment. Under Alexander and Macias' tutelage, that's still the case. They'll preserve any animal you bring them — so long as it is not a protected species or an illegal pet. They'll even make you a unicorn or a sasquatch or a wearable Velociraptor costume that roars and can open and close its jaws. The largest animal Alexander and Macias have preserved was an 11-foot-long buffalo, while the smallest, not including insects, was a hummingbird. Off the top of their heads, the only animal they haven't preserved — yet — is the genetically rare white tiger. The majority of Bischoff's clientele still comes from Hollywood. Due to federal and state laws, as well as industry regulators like the American Humane Association, it often makes more sense to use body doubles for animals when filming and is occasionally mandatory (such as scenes that involve roadkill or drowning incidents). On a recent Wednesday, Alexander fielded calls from studios about the types of snake skins in stock, how to clean dirt off a rented coyote and the particular body poses of their turkeys. 'So what are you thinking?' Alexander said, talking on the phone. 'Turkeys in flight? Perched? Or did you need a floppy version?" As for the pet sector, which accounts for around 40% of their business, dogs and cats, unsurprisingly, make up the majority of the preservations, but the team has also worked on rabbits, rodents, chameleons and roosters. And although they will preserve your pet goldfish, they will strongly encourage you to consider having a synthetic version made of it due to the oils in the scales, which inevitably lead to deterioration. Read more: 18 places in L.A. where your dog is more welcomed than you Bischoff's works on pets shipped from around the country as well as overseas. Dr. Xanya Sofra, who is based in Hong Kong, has had at least half a dozen of her papillons preserved by Bischoff's. Another client, who was an avid hiker, had Bischoff's preserve his golden retriever in an upright position so that he could carry it in his backpack on his treks. Neither Alexander nor Macias had a background in taxidermy when they started working at Bischoff's. They were both musicians, which is how they initially met. Macias also owned an auto shop and has been taking apart and fixing appliances from a young age. Alexander picked up jobs at Bischoff's when it was owned by the previous owner, Gary Robbins. The pay was good, the work interesting and he realized he had a knack for airbrushing and sculpting. In 2017, when Robbins was ready to retire, Alexander and Macias, who by then had also started working there, decided to buy the business. Bischoff's specializes in a form of hybrid taxidermy, incorporating traditional techniques with the more new-fangled freeze-drying process. The results are not only more lifelike and long-lasting than the standard gut-and-stuff method, but it also allows for the bulk of the original animal to remain, including the skeletal structure, toenails, whiskers, eyelids, nose and teeth. The eyes, however, are made of glass. The method leaves room for error. Water can be used to dampen and repose the body and paint can be removed or retouched. 'You can definitely backpedal,' Alexander said, making a note to check the texture of the preserved hearts on sticks in the next 24 hours. Read more: Birdman | Taxidermist specializes in preserving birds Alexander credits this attention to detail to his predecessors, former owner Robbins and then-main taxidermist Larry Greissinger, who taught him the trade. Strict in their teachings, Robbins and Greissinger emphasized getting every bodily facet correct: from recreating the natural anatomy to sewing the perfect hidden stitch to making sure the eyes looked right. 'That's where the emotion is,' Alexander said. 'You can get the perfect body pose, but if the eyes aren't sitting well or don't carry any emotion, then the animal will never look alive.' A few of Bischoff's early taxidermy pieces are still on display, including a dog, which looks more like a cross between a wolf and a baboon, dating to the 1920s. Its plaster interior, an old taxidermy technique, gives it a stiff visage and makes it exceedingly heavy. Bischoff's prices reflect its modernized techniques, as well as the amount of time and attention to even the smallest of details required to make a dead pet come back to life. The cost for a fully preserved cat or a small dog like a Chihuahua starts at $2,640, with small birds, like a budgie, starting at $850. Although most customers order full-body taxidermy, an "a la carte" menu has expanded over the years with jars of whiskers or fur, bundles of bones tied in a bow and, the most recent addition, freeze-dried hearts, which come mounted inside of a glass cloche. Bischoff's also offers cloning services through its Texas-based affiliate Viagen Pets, to whom they send the pet's skin tissues. Costly though their work is, Alexander and Macias see it as an investment. Pets, they point out, are friends you look at every day. You're intimately aware of their nuances and quirks, like how their left ear might curl back more than the right one or the way their nose tilts ever-so-subtly upwards. Entrust their preservation to a novice or lower-cost taxidermist, and you risk losing some of the elements that made your pet who they were. Bischoff's has seen its share of people who've preserved their pets with budget taxidermists only to be disappointed. 'It's unfortunate because at that point, there's not much we can do,' Alexander said. Such pets are cremated "because they just can't stand to look at them.' In the back of Bischoff's warehouse is where the equipment resides and the smells of the oils running the machines permeates the space. The company has one aquamation machine that uses alkali solution, heat and pressure to break down the organic material into ashes. With interior chambers lined with perforated metal walls, the contraption somewhat resembles a fast-food restaurant's deep fryer. Except, one taxidermist notes, when the process is done, instead of having golden fried potato strips in each basket, all that is left are bones. Oftentimes at the ends of these processes, Bischoff's workers will find inorganic remnants from the pets, such as microchips, metal plates or orthopedic screws. They give them to their owners as keepsakes. Macias' son, 29-year-old Chris Macias, works alongside his dad at Bischoff's. He started helping out to make extra money while attending nursing school, but when business picked up, he decided to transition fully into the taxidermy business. He does a little bit of everything — recently, it was prepping a seal pelt for the San Pedro Marine Mammal Care Center — but tends to do pet pickups the most. Less technical though it may be, it is more emotionally taxing as he's interfacing with grieving clients who might still be in shock or confused as to what exactly they want to do with their late pets. 'Everybody's different, but I just try to be there for them,' Chris said. 'Their pet was part of their family, so I totally understand. Because all of us here, we have our own pets as well. We get it.' Though Alexander never imagined building a career out of preserving dead pets, he said, 'We've found joy in this work and we just see preservation as another form of art.' It's that art that is helping keep the memories of beloved pets alive — for generations even. Hays, the owner of Chihuahua-Yorkie mix Pixie, already has a contingency plan in place for Pixie's taxidermy upon her own death. It will be 'adopted' by another family member. Her daughter has already called dibs. And many of Bischoff's pet preservation customers are repeat clients, which is something that Alexander and Macias take pride in. Two women picking up the taxidermy body of their late cat recently chatted with Alexander about their newest rescue, a diabetic stray cat burnt in the Altadena fires. They couldn't help but comment on the 'beautiful bone structure' of the feline, still very much alive. 'I was like, 'Hmm, you're definitely going on the altar some day,'' one of the women said. Sign up for The Wild newsletter to get weekly insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CTV News
19-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Polar bear, lynx, cougar: This for-sale B.C. cabin is a taxidermist's dream
A seven-bedroom log cabin with an extensive taxidermy collection is now on the market. (Courtesy: Sotheby's International Realty)
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Colorado celebrity alligator to be taxidermized to "continue to scare children for years to come"
Colorado celebrity alligator to be taxidermized to "continue to scare children for years to come" Colorado celebrity alligator to be taxidermized to "continue to scare children for years to come" Colorado celebrity alligator to be taxidermized to "continue to scare children for years to come" Colorado recently lost a resident celebrity, an alligator named Morris, famous for several movies and shows, including "Happy Gilmore." Now, his owner is paying tribute to the star so his legacy will live on. In one of the most scenic parts of the state lies Colorado Gators Reptile Park, home to alligators, tortoises, emus, cows and more. But the star of the show was Morris, who died of old age in his "Hollywood" pen earlier this week. Morris Colorado Gators Reptile Park "Happy Gilmore, it was Adam Sandler. Like, that's just nostalgia. That's just my childhood," said owner Jay Young. Young said he's grateful they had Morris for so long and that the alligator lived a happy life with them. "It's hard. We got to know him, got to love him for 20 years. Nineteen years after he left Hollywood," shared Young. "He was old when he left Hollywood and came here, and they said, 'You know, he's old. He might live a year, he might live ten years. He lived 19." The alligator was a staple of a Colorado staple that's been through a rough last few years, between a devastating fire that took the lives of some of their animals, the loss of co-workers, and now, Morris. Colorado Gators Reptile Park Morris made several appearances during his time working in Hollywood, including the movies "Happy Gilmore," "Interview with the Vampire" and "Dr. Doolittle 2." He also featured in an episode of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." He retired in 2006 and was later found in the backyard of a Los Angeles home as an illegal pet. From there, Morris was sent to live at Colorado Gators. The news of Morris's death reached Sandler, who wrote a tribute to his former co-star on social media, saying he learned from Morris to know his worth on set. Goodbye, Morris. We are all gonna miss you. You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers - really anyone with arms or legs - but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film. The day you wouldn't come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce… — Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) May 14, 2025 "You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers - really anyone with arms or legs - but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film," Sandler quipped. "The day you wouldn't come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art." "It wasn't just RIP Morris, it was a comic relief to be honest," Young said with a laugh. CBS Young said Morris will keep teaching, beyond the grave, after his body is taxidermized "so that he can continue to scare children for years to come." "People can go in and see what his teeth feel like and take pictures and things like that," Young explained. CBS The circle of life began anew at Colorado Gators with the recent birth of a baby emu. Death and birth are a part of life, said Young, adding they might name the emu chick Morris in honor of the late star. Young said the best way fans can honor Morris is to stop by and see what's going on at Colorado Gators. But, aside from that, Young encouraged them to support their local animal shelters because they usually need a lot of help.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Morris the alligator dies after film career spanning three decades
Morris, the alligator who co-starred with Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore," has died of old age after at least 80 years. The 11-foot, 640-pound alligator resided at the Colorado Gator Farm after retiring from a Hollywood career spanning from 1975 to 2006. Morris, who 'started acting strange' a week prior to his death, will be taxidermied and displayed at the farm. Adam Sandler posted an Instagram tribute to Morris, humorously recalling the alligator 's on-set demeanour and expressing his condolences.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Animal rights campaigners are roaring with rage at royal exhibit over stuffed 8ft Bengal tiger
The Royal Family bowed to political correctness a decade ago and removed a vast cache of big-game hunting exhibits from the so-called Trophy Room at Sandringham. Now, animal rights campaigners are demanding that a stuffed 8ft Bengal tiger from one of George V 's big-game hunts in Asia should be removed from Bristol Museum, returned home and given a respectful burial. The big cat was shot by King Charles 's great-grandfather during his infamous ten-day hunting trip to Nepal in 1911 when he proudly claimed he killed 21 tigers, eight rhinos and a bear, describing the cull afterwards as 'a record'. He added: 'I think it will be hard to beat.' The tiger was then shipped back from Nepal for the King and stuffed by a taxidermist. It can be seen crouching hidden in long grass in front of a painted mural by the wildlife artist Stanley Lloyd. The mural shows a bearded George V in a khaki safari outfit and pith helmet riding an elephant, with his shotgun poised ready to fire. Above the cabinet is written the legend: 'Shot and presented by His Majesty King George V, 1911.' Elisa Allen, from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), says: 'Almost all animals stuffed and mounted were shot for sport or otherwise violently killed, and there are two ways to deal with this shameful past behaviour. 'Bury the dead respectfully, no matter how long it has been [since they died], just as we are returning human remains and artefacts to their countries of origin.' Failing that, the museum should at the very least 'make sure the plaque describing [the animals] decries their horrific dispatch', she adds. Dr Mark Jones, of the Born Free Foundation, says: 'Trophy hunting had a devastating impact on the populations of many species.' Days after Monty Python colleague Sir Michael Palin turned 82, John Cleese mischievously suggests a wager. The Fawlty Towers star, 85, announces: 'Michael Palin had a birthday. To mark the occasion, I propose a bet: $100 to whoever lives longer. Winner gets it from the other's will.' Cleese appears to need rather more. Reflecting on his £15 million divorce from Alyce Faye Eichelberger, he revealed: 'The third wife got two properties, one was in London and one was in New York, and we had to sell the other three.' Damian's bid to be best dad Damian Lewis made the Bafta TV awards a family affair by bringing his children along. The Eton-educated star, 54, was joined on the red carpet at London's Royal Festival Hall by his daughter Manon, 18, and son Gulliver, 17. Their mother, the Peaky Blinders actress Helen McCrory, died from breast cancer in 2021, aged 52. Lewis was nominated for a best supporting actor award for his performance as Henry VIII in the BBC's acclaimed drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light, but was beaten by Ariyon Bakare for Mr Loverman. Swimwear designer Melissa Odabash will soon mark 25 years in the business, but still suffers from body hang-ups because of working with models. At the Fragrance Foundation Awards she tells me: 'I did a live casting on Skype with 35 models and it's not so easy. 'They all get their bikinis on in their houses. I'm like, 'Oh my God, I need to go to the gym'.' How Zara tackled Mike's snoring Zara Tindall has revealed that she secretly filmed her husband, Mike, while he was asleep to convince him to have surgery on his nose, which he broke at least eight times during his illustrious rugby career. 'When he was playing, there was no point in doing it,' Zara says at the London Sporting Club lunch at Quaglino's in St James's. 'But when I started to film him at night when he was sleeping and stopping breathing, I was like, 'You see where I am coming from now?' ' King Charles's niece adds: 'I am a really deep sleeper and I normally get to sleep before him. It is fixed now, better than what it was.' The former England captain said his mother-in-law, Princess Anne, asked him to have surgery before he married Zara in 2011. He finally did so in 2018. Her first major role was in a television drama opposite her mother, Kate Winslet, but Mia Threapleton insists that she's no 'nepo baby'. 'I feel like it's a misconception about me, considering who my mother is, that I grew up going to set or that I would know anything about this world because of her and what she does,' says the 24-year-old actress, whose father is the Oscar winner's first husband, film director Jim Threapleton. 'That is not the case at all. I genuinely can count on not even two hands the amount of times I went to set as a kid. There were never scripts lying around the house.' Strictly no mention of Dame Arlene Phillips turning 82 next week. The former Strictly judge tells me: 'My family said, 'Do you just want to skip it?' I said, 'That sounds like a very good idea.' So, I'm skipping my birthday. I've had so many amazing birthdays – I don't need any more.'
