Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, May 3 Former San Quentin guard publishes book Photographers capture some lovely blooms in latest Mail Tribune contest Soaring rents, stagnant wages create housing crisis Wimer's Highland Games appeal to both the kilted and kiltless Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 3 Dozens of drivers nabbed in Medford pedestrian sting Emergency services, May 2 Gold Hill man torched his foreclosed property No leads on who smashed about 20 windows in Ashland before dawn Thursday Politics and Elections BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Education More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Levy backers eye final push Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Neal Simon: This is a test Environment Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste State News PERS ruling means tough choices for state and local lawmakers US, Canada unveil rules to boost oil train safety Cylvia Hayes public records case goes before Salem judge Fixit tag for Portland's noted Portland Building: $175 million Fee targets rail cars that haul oil, other flammables Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Tim Lawrence Yockey Penelope Catherine (Turner) Martens William "Bill" Geisslinger Alice Irenia (McFall) Calkins Dennis Dean Ekwall Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ragan, Tornado hit way past Indians Mayweather wins decision in richest fight Timbers, Whitecaps play to 0-0 draw North’s Folsom, South boys shine at GP Rotary Marist halts EP’s winning streak Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders' Abbott breaks 22-year-old record Dodge signs as free agent with Falcons Lockie stands out in Ducks' spring game Raiders go 1-1, advance to today Singler shines in Raider spring game Pro Sports Mayweather wins decision in richest fight Timbers, Whitecaps play to 0-0 draw Clippers oust defending champ Spurs McIlroy, Casey fight until darkness Quarterbacks Petty, Hundley chosen on final day Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Blog: Do You Want Cheese with Your Wine? Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Comcast deal dropped along with Pac-12 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option Real Estate News Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, May 3 Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Dana Milbank: Clinton's opponents need to smoke her out George Will: The Lusitania's role in history Charles Krauthammer: Men wielding power in hellish times Editorials Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Other Views: Gun-bill recalls misguided, futile Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Our View: Medical marijuana market not at risk Our View: Don't wait on public records reform Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 3 Letters to the Editor, May 2 Letters to the Editor, May 1 Letters to the Editor, April 30 Letters to the Editor, April 29 Columns Dana Milbank: Clinton's opponents need to smoke her out George Will: The Lusitania's role in history Charles Krauthammer: Men wielding power in hellish times Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Michael Gerson: A pastor's faith in Baltimore Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Lifestyle Latest stories Photographers capture some lovely blooms in latest Mail Tribune contest Bright spots in the dark Wedding: Melody Ann Madi and Lyman Martin Stiles Engagement: Anders-Stanley Columnist for a Day: 'When Harry met Shirley,' the story continues Food Andrea Honaker: Mexican-inspired dips for Cinco de Mayo Set a table from your local farmers market Let's do brunch! Page H. Onorato: Enjoying good food just for the fun of it Page H. Onorato: Food items appear in the funnies Home and Garden Heirloom tomatoes bring ageless flavor Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Clean out household chemicals Friday and Saturday Dear Monty: 10 tips to avoid tenant complaints Home Help: Upgrade your entryway with simple DIY projects Health Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Health Watch: Pack your pantry with healthy items HealthStyle: It’s all in the family dinner 'Game changer' for heart patients Health Watch: Tips for protecting your eyes Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Milestones and Achievements Wedding: Melody Ann Madi and Lyman Martin Stiles Engagement: Anders-Stanley ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' Camelot Theatre presents 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Theater REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Thanks for the Memories stages 'Company' one night only Music Thunder's Edge, Steel Cranes tonight at Club 66 The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Live Music in Local Clubs Trio Brasileiro plays Old Siskiyou Barn Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Movies Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ knows how to party Catching up with the Avengers Interview: Sofia Vergara talks ‘Hot Pursuit’ Quick Flicks: ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Insurgent’ and more Dining Restaurant inspections, May 3, 2015 Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Have you wandered down the Bear Creek Wine Trail yet? Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board ... Bright spots in the dark ... Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes ... Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board ... Bright spots in the dark ... Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes ... Toutle man uses beetles and bleach to build thriving skeletal business Comment By Tom Paulu Longview Daily News MailTribune.com By Tom Paulu Longview Daily News Posted Mar. 8, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Tom Paulu Longview Daily News Posted Mar. 8, 2015 at 2:00 AM --> SkullDuggery Bob Bicknell sells cougar skulls for $100 to $150, with prices for elk ranging from $125 to $750. The skulls of smaller animals go for $15 to $30. Visit www.skullpre... » Read more X SkullDuggery Bob Bicknell sells cougar skulls for $100 to $150, with prices for elk ranging from $125 to $750. The skulls of smaller animals go for $15 to $30. Visit www.skullpreparation.com or call 360-749-9814 for more information. » Social News TOUTLE — Bob Bicknell has built a thriving business from bleach, bugs and bones. Over the past decade, Bicknell has found his niche in the taxidermy world by specializing in so-called European mounts, in which only an animal's skull and antlers or bones are displayed. Bicknell's SkullDuggery shop next to his Toutle-area home is filled with rows and rows of bones and skulls of beasts large and small. The antlers of a European red stag are displayed near a giraffe skull. Boxes on Bicknell's shelves are labeled "nutria" and "muskrat." A particularly popular item he sells is the 5-inch-long raccoon penis bone. However, the bulk of his business revolves around the less exotic: deer, elk and cougar skulls. He processes 2,000 to 3,000 skulls per year, he estimated. One day last week, Bicknell was working on the horns of a musk ox from Alaska. "Of the thousands and thousands I've done, this is only the second musk ox," he said. When he gets a skull or bones, Bicknell firsts scrapes away as much of the soft tissue as he can with hand tools. He works on stainless steel autopsy tables he bought used on eBay. He then enlists dermestids, black beetles that are voracious flesh-eaters. The back of Bicknell's shop holds the "Bug Room," a chamber filled with racks of bones beset by bugs. The beetles spend a week or two munching on the body parts until the flesh resembles jerky. Then, "it goes into the soup," Bicknell said — plastic tubs of industrial-strength hydrogen peroxide that bleaches the bones white. He takes care not to get bleach on antlers, which would get discolored during the week-long soak. Bicknell, 60, a native of the Midwest, first learned about the bugs-and-bleach technique while studying zoology at Michigan State University. He later got a master's degree at the University of Oregon, honing his interest in exotic species by studying the ring-tailed lemurs of Madagascar. Bicknell worked for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as a habitat biologist for 23 years. A decade ago, he quit his job researching everything from steelhead to salamanders for the state and decided to focus instead on his business. When he started Skullduggery, he concentrated on local species such as deer, elk, bear and cougar. "I sell a lot of small bobcats and bear (skulls) to stores up and down the West Coast," he said. He gets the skulls from trappers. Bicknell later branched into more exotic species. A wart hog skull in a case greets visitors, near that of a liger (a cross between a lion and a tiger). "That came from somebody's pet in Portland," Bicknell explained. A full lion skeleton came from a collector in Ohio, who had obtained it from a zoo.   Educational tools In addition to preparing mounts for hunters to hang on the walls of their dens, Bicknell produces animal skeletons for display at museums and zoos. Last week, his projects included a lowly opossum ordered by a university in California. Bicknell helped preserve for posterity some of Cindy, a beloved elephant at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma that died in 2002. "They decided they would save a hind leg and the head," he said. However, he first had to unearth the remains, which had been buried for four years. "I got it out just in the nick of time," he said. "It was a terrible organic goo, but it turned out beautifully." Pieces of another big critter — a gray whale skeleton — lie in several locations in the shop. The whale, which washed up on a Pierce County beach in 2006, is a long-range project. Bicknell also assists those who want reminders of their pets. "I do a lot of house cat skeletons for people," he said. With full-fur taxidermy, "you can never make Fido look like Fido or Fluffy look like Fluffy," he said. Bicknell enjoys sharing tips on wildlife skull identification during sessions with school groups. He first looks at the teeth. For instance, sea otters: "They have these huge flat crushing molars" they use for crushing shells. Despite their peaceful reputation, llamas have fighting teeth. "They have these really sharp canines," he said. Another tip he shares is that elk antlers have different hues of brown depending on what kind of fir trees they rubbed against. "You can tell by the color of the antlers where it came from," he said. As a sideline, Bicknell occasionally is called upon to examine bones found in the wilds to determine whether they're from animals or humans. Along with the hundreds of animal bones, several human skulls sit here and there in his shop, and a headless human skeleton hangs in one corner. Bicknell gets the human bones from medical classes. "We'll take them in and run them through our whitener," he said. He also has acquired skeletons that once were used for fraternity initiation ceremonies at Odd Fellows lodges. "I've bought a fair number of those that have been painted," he said. The cleaned bones and skulls are purchased by medical institutions for training purposes. "I'll bet I sell 60 to 100 a year," he said. The prices range from $100 to $500, depending on the condition. He doesn't want to meet people whose bones he will eventually tidy up, however. "I've had a couple of clients call and say, 'I'd like you to do my skeleton when I die.' " Even though his profession is all about remains, Bicknell turns down those jobs. "I just don't want to do it," he said. "That's just too creepy."   By Tom Paulu Longview Daily News MailTribune.com By Tom Paulu Longview Daily News Posted Mar. 8, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501