How to Care for a Taxidermy Mount in the UAE's Heat and Humidity
Short answer: Keep your mount out of direct light, away from heat and damp, free of dust, and checked for insects twice a year. In the UAE the biggest risks are strong sunlight, summer humidity, and the sudden swing between air-conditioned rooms and hot, humid air outside. Most problems can be prevented with a good spot on the wall or shelf and a few minutes of care a month.
Last updated 13 October 2026. This guide is general information based on museum conservation advice. If a piece is damaged, infested or very valuable, talk to a professional before you treat it yourself.
Key points
Light fades colour. Daylight and artificial light, including UV, fade pigment in fur, feathers and skin.
Stable air is the goal. Museums aim for relative humidity (RH) of 45% to 55% and a steady temperature. Heat can release fats from a skin, which can cause hair or feather loss, and very dry air can crack horn, bone and teeth.
Dust is the everyday enemy. Closed cases and regular gentle cleaning keep it under control.
Insects are the hidden risk. Check at least twice a year, and more often in warm, humid months.
No water or household chemicals. Do not wipe a mount with a wet cloth or spray it with polish or insecticide.
Where to put a mount
Choose the spot before you hang or place the piece.
Away from windows. Direct sun is the fastest way to fade a mount. Even bright indirect daylight adds up over the years.
Away from heat and air-conditioning vents. Warm conditions are bad for a skin, and a cold draught from a vent causes sudden changes in humidity.
Away from the kitchen and bathroom. Steam, cooking grease and damp all shorten the life of a piece.
Away from outside walls that sweat. If a wall feels damp or shows condensation in summer, hang the piece somewhere else.
Out of reach. Horns, ears, beaks, tails and whiskers break easily, so keep pieces above the height of children and pets.
A glass case or a framed display box is the best protection. It keeps dust off, slows down changes in humidity and keeps curious hands away.
Light, heat and humidity in UAE homes
Most UAE homes are cool and dry indoors and hot and humid outdoors, especially from June to September. That creates two problems.
Moving from cold to hot. If you carry a mount from a cold air-conditioned room into humid outdoor air, moisture can condense on it. Let it warm up slowly in its box or wrapping before you unpack it, and avoid leaving it in a hot car.
Switching the air conditioning off. If a villa or storage room is closed up for the summer with the air conditioning off, humidity rises quickly. Mould and insects thrive in those conditions. If you travel for the summer, leave the air conditioning on at a steady, moderate setting.
A small digital hygrometer costs very little and shows the humidity in the room. As a target, the UK Institute of Conservation suggests 45% to 55% RH for storage, and a temperature that is as stable as possible. If your room is often far outside that range, a dehumidifier or humidifier can help.
Avoid switching display-case lights on and off repeatedly through the day. The changes in heat and humidity inside the case are hard on the specimen. LED lighting with low UV output, kept off when nobody is looking, is a better choice.
How to dust a mount
Use a soft, clean brush (a clean make-up brush or a soft paintbrush works) and brush gently in the direction of the fur or feathers.
A vacuum cleaner on its lowest setting with a piece of fine mesh or net over the nozzle can lift dust without pulling anything loose. Hold the nozzle a little away from the surface.
Do not use water, damp cloths, furniture polish, glass cleaner or air freshener on the piece. Do not use a hairdryer.
Wear a dust mask and wash your hands afterwards, particularly with older pieces (see below).
Clean the inside of the glass of a case with a cloth that does not touch the specimen.
Dusting every month or two is plenty for most homes.
Insects and mould
Clothes moths and carpet beetles (and their larvae) are the most common pests of fur, feathers and skin.
Signs to look for:
Small piles of fine dust or grit under the piece, which conservators call frass.
Tiny shed skins (casts) from larvae.
Thinning fur or feathers, bald patches, or small holes.
Adult moths or beetles near the piece.
White, grey or green fuzzy patches, or a musty smell, which suggest mould.
What to do:
Isolate the piece from other mounts, books and textiles right away.
Seal it in a bag so insects cannot spread.
Contact the studio or a conservator. Museum guidance for small pieces is to seal the specimen in a plastic bag with the air pressed out and freeze it at -18 °C for at least 14 days, but this is not safe for every mount, so ask first. Large mounts, glass eyes, painted surfaces and mixed materials can be damaged by freezing.
Do not spray household insecticide on the piece. Many sprays stain or damage skin, and some leave residues.
Prevention is simple. Check each piece twice a year, more often in summer. Look behind and underneath it. Keep wool, fur and feathers that you do not display in sealed containers, because pests can travel from one object to the next.
Handling and moving a mount
Support it from underneath. Lift by the base or the body, never by the horns, antlers, ears, beak, tail or legs.
Wear clean nitrile gloves if you have them. Skin oils and sweat can mark surfaces.
Pack it carefully for a move: acid-free tissue around delicate parts, a snug box, and no heavy items on top. Fragile parts such as antlers and tails should not carry any weight.
Ask us before you move a large mount, a diorama or a piece with a habitat base. It is cheaper to plan the move than to repair a break.
Older pieces and arsenic
Museum guidance warns that taxidermy made before about 1980 may have been treated with arsenical soap, which can appear as a fine white powder. If you have inherited an older mount, wear gloves and a dust mask when you handle or clean it, wash your hands afterwards, and do not let children or pets touch it. A professional can advise you on whether it is safe to display.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a taxidermy mount last?
A well-made mount that is kept out of sun, heat, damp and insects can last for decades. Museums keep specimens that are more than a century old, which shows how much the environment matters.
Can I clean a taxidermy mount with a damp cloth?
No. Moisture can damage the skin and encourage mould. Use a soft brush or a gentle vacuum, as described above.
What humidity is best for taxidermy?
Museum guidance suggests a relative humidity of about 45% to 55%, with a temperature that stays as steady as possible. Very dry air can crack horn, bone and teeth, and damp air encourages mould and insects.
Will sunlight really damage my mount?
Yes. Daylight and UV light fade the colour of fur, feathers and skin. A position away from windows, or a case with UV-filtering glass, protects the piece.
What should I do if I find insects?
Isolate the piece, seal it in a bag, and ask a professional before you treat it. Do not spray it with insecticide.
About Tribulus
Tribulus is a taxidermy and specimen studio in Dubai. We are named after the tribulus, the hardy yellow desert flower of the UAE. If you have a piece that needs checking, or you are not sure how to display it, email us at info@tribulus.ae.
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