How to Preserve Rattle Snake Skin

Snakes are known for shedding their skin regularly, as this promotes growth and gives their bodies a healthy sheen. Shed snake skin can be a decorative item for snake enthusiasts, particularly rattlesnake skin, which can be found all throughout the Southwest. There are two types of rattlesnake skins: the aforementioned skin that the snake shed itself and decorative skin that a skinner removed from the snake. Preserving rattlesnake skin for decorative purposes is a fairly easy task depending on how you wish to display it.

Things You'll Need

  • Poster board
  • Jar of water
  • Pins
  • Scissors
  • Antifreeze
  • Paint brush
  • Picture frame
Show More

Instructions

  1. Preserving Shed Skin

    • 1

      Place the shed skin in a jar of water for around an hour. This will clean off any dirt or debris.

    • 2

      Remove the skin from the jar and stretch it across a thin piece of poster board.

    • 3

      Pin the snake skin to the board, putting a single pin on each end.

    • 4

      Set the skin outside under the sun to dry for a few hours.

    • 5

      Cut the poster board around the snake skin and place it in a picture frame for display.

    Preserving Skinned Skin

    • 6

      Lay the skin across a poster board, stretching it out.

    • 7

      Pin it down against the poster board using the pins.

    • 8

      Slather a light coat of antifreeze over the skin with the paintbrush and allow it to dry for a few hours.

    • 9

      Display the skin either in a picture frame or against felt for hanging.