My name is Zoe, I’m 24 years old and I’ve been doing taxidermy since 2023. I’ve been collecting oddities like bones and bugs since I was a little kid, and have always been interested in the odd and unusual.
In 2022 I went to an oddity store in Winston Salem, NC called Major Tomms where I saw a taxidermy squirrel flipping the bird. I wanted it to badly, but it was out of my price range. I decided I wanted to try and make one myself! I started picking up roadkill and practicing skinning and tanning. Soon after, I joined the rat taxidermy class at the oddities expo in NC of May 2023 where I created my very first taxidermy piece! I really bonded with the woman teaching the class and soon after did a virtual taxidermy class where I mounted a rabbit.
My first and second taxidermy pieces!
A few moths later, I found a community college in my state that offered a taxidermy course. I started at Montgomery Community College in the fall of 2023 in the bird taxidermy class. After that, I did the mammal course. I was having a ton of fun especially surrounded by others who had the same passion as me that I decided to repeat the classes. I received a certificate in bird taxidermy as well as a certificate in mammal taxidermy. Toward the end of my second mammal course in April 2025, I received an excellence in taxidermy award!
After graduating MCC, I moved back home where I set up my shop in my garage. I’ve been working on projects ever since! My passion comes from honoring the animals I work with and giving them a second life through art. I source my specimens sustainably and responsibly through roadkill, farmers, animal rehabbers, hunters, and trappers. I love working on small mammals the most! I still have a lot to learn, but I learn something new from each animal I work on. I strive for quality work by making sure that every animal I have is properly tanned into a leather, so it will last for years and years. I do not use dry preservative, this is just my personal preference. I’m always open to taking in new projects and can mount them in whatever way my client wants. I look forward to working with you in the future and appreciate you hearing my story!