If you want to know how to cure squirrel tail for fly tying or just as a keepsake, the process is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. You don't need a degree in taxidermy or a bunch of expensive equipment to get a professional result. Most of what you need is likely sitting in your kitchen or laundry room right now. Whether you're a hunter looking to make use of every part of the animal or a crafter interested in natural materials, curing tails is a satisfying little DIY project that saves money and keeps resources from going to waste.
Getting the Tail Ready
Before you can even think about the curing process, you have to get the tail off the squirrel and, more importantly, get the bone out of the tail. If you leave the bone in, it's going to rot. There's no way around it. The marrow and tissue inside that bone will eventually start to smell, and no amount of salt on the outside will stop that internal decay.
The easiest way to remove the bone is the "pull" method. Most people find that if they grasp the base of the tail firmly with one hand (or a pair of pliers) and use their other hand to grip the tail bone right at the base, they can pull the skin right off the bone. It should slide out like a sword from a sheath. If you're struggling, some folks use two small pieces of wood or a split stick to pinch the bone while they pull the skin away. Just be careful not to pull too hard and snap the tail skin, especially near the tip where it gets thin.
Once the bone is out, you've basically got a hollow tube of fur. This is exactly what you want. Some people like to take a sharp hobby knife and slit the tail all the way down the underside to lay it flat. This is a great move if you want to make sure the curing agent reaches every single bit of the hide. If you're planning on using the hair for fly tying, laying it flat makes it much easier to clip off sections later.
The Importance of Degreasing
Squirrels can be surprisingly greasy little animals. If you've ever handled one, you know their skin has a certain oiliness to it. If you don't get that grease off, the tail might never truly "cure," and it'll always have a bit of a funky smell. Plus, grease attracts dust and can eventually turn rancid.
Give the tail a good wash in warm water with a bit of grease-cutting dish soap. Blue Dawn is the gold standard for this, but any decent dish soap will do the trick. Gently massage the soapy water into the fur and the inside of the skin. Don't be too rough—you don't want to pull the hair out—but be thorough. Rinse it well with cold water until all the soap is gone. You'll notice the fur looks a bit pathetic and matted at this stage, but don't worry, it'll fluff back up once it's dry.
Choosing Your Curing Agent
When it comes to how to cure squirrel tail effectively, you generally have two main options: salt or borax. Both work by drawing moisture out of the skin, which prevents bacteria from growing.
Using Plain Old Salt
Non-iodized table salt or pickling salt is the most common choice. It's cheap, everyone has it, and it works. You want to avoid salt with iodine because it can sometimes discolor the hide or the fur, though with a squirrel tail, it's less of an issue than with a white rabbit pelt.
To use salt, just find a small box or a plastic container and lay down a thick layer of salt. Place your tail on top and then bury it completely in more salt. You want it totally covered. The salt pulls the moisture out of the skin and into the grains of salt.
The Borax Method
Many hobbyists prefer Borax (the laundry booster) over salt. Borax not only dries out the skin but also acts as a bit of an insecticide. This is a huge plus if you're worried about mites or carpet beetles getting into your fly-tying materials later on. Borax also tends to leave the skin a bit more supple than salt does, though for a squirrel tail, "supple" isn't usually the top priority. The process is the same: bury the tail in a container of Borax and let it sit.
The Drying Process
Now comes the part that requires the most patience. You can't rush the drying process. Put your container in a cool, dry place where it won't be disturbed. A garage or a basement is usually fine, as long as it isn't damp.
How long does it take? Usually, about two to three weeks is the sweet spot. After about a week, it's a good idea to check on it. If the salt or Borax feels damp to the touch, shake it off and replace it with fresh, dry material. This is especially important if you live in a humid climate. If the curing agent gets saturated with moisture, it stops working, and that's when you run the risk of the tail starting to smell.
You'll know it's done when the skin feels hard and papery. There shouldn't be any "give" or soft spots. If you slit the tail open earlier, the edges should be stiff.
Finishing Touches and Fluffing
Once the tail is fully cured, shake off all the excess salt or Borax. You might want to use an old toothbrush to gently scrub any stubborn bits of salt off the hide. Now, about that matted fur—since you washed it earlier, it might still look a bit clumped together.
The best way to get that classic squirrel tail fluff back is to give it a quick "air wash." You can use a hair dryer on the cool setting to blow through the fur. This separates the hairs and makes the tail look like it did when it was on the squirrel. Some people even use a fine-toothed comb to gently brush the fur out. Just be careful not to tug too hard on the skin.
Dealing with Common Problems
Sometimes things don't go perfectly. If you finish the process and the tail still has a lingering "wild" smell, it usually means it wasn't degreased well enough or it didn't dry fast enough. You can try burying it in fresh Borax for another week, or even putting it in a container with some baking soda to help absorb the odor.
Another issue is "slipping," which is when the hair starts falling out in clumps. This usually happens if the tail stayed damp for too long before the curing agent could do its job. If the hair is slipping, there isn't much you can do to fix it, which is why it's so important to get the tail into the salt or Borax as soon as possible after cleaning it.
Storing Your Cured Tails
If you've cured a bunch of tails for future projects, you don't want to just toss them in a junk drawer. Even cured tails can be a target for pests. The best way to store them is in a sealed Ziploc bag. A lot of folks like to toss a mothball or a small cedar chip into the bag just to be extra safe. If you keep them dry and away from bugs, a properly cured squirrel tail will last for years and years.
It's honestly a pretty rewarding process. There's something cool about taking a raw material and turning it into something useful for your fly-tying bench or your craft room. Once you master how to cure squirrel tail, you'll probably find yourself looking for other small hides to practice on. Just remember: get the bone out, get the grease off, and let the salt do the heavy lifting.