Wired has a unique look at some of the taxidermy preservation that goes on in the Museum of Natural History in New York. This is specifically the North American Mammals hall. I had the opportunity to spend a whole day at the museum this summer, admiring the dioramas. World class collection.
Taxidermist George Dante touches up one of the Alaskan brown bears in the Hall of North American Mammals. The standing bear in this diorama is more than 8 feet tall. Photo: © AMNH/D. Finnin

Stephen Quinn, the senior project manager in the AMNH’s exhibition department, works on restoring the wolf diorama, which sets a scene from Gunflint Lake in Minnesota. Photo: © AMNH/R. Mickens

A preparator works on the Canadian lynx diorama. Photo: © AMNH/R. Mickens

A coyote before and after the restoration. Photo: © AMNH Natural Science Conservation

A bison bull before and after the restoration. Photo: © AMNH Natural Science Conservation

A cacomistle before and after the restoration. Photo: © AMNH Natural Science Conservation

A pronghorn before and after the restoration. Photo: © AMNH Natural Science Conservation

A ferret before and after the restoration. Photo: © AMNH Natural Science Conservation

The Hall of North American Mammals. Photo: © AMNH/D. Finnin

A jack rabbit in process of restoration. Photo: © AMNH/R. Mickens