What about the eyes?

MT. PLEASANT — This Saturday, with Henry County Conservation Department board member Tony Brown will host a taxidermy demonstration at the Nature Center.

This free program, open to the public, will begin at 10 a.m.

“Anybody that looks at taxidermy always kind of wonders how those things go together,” Brown said, “How they make them look the way they look and what’s inside.”

Brown anticipates answering questions concerning if the real eyes or teeth are used when creating taxidermy displays.

He will bring a variety of eyes from different species.

“I am going to bring down some furry animals and some feathery animals I am working on in the shop, and some of the different tools and supplies I use,” he said. “I’m going to show these people what is inside these things.”

“I am going to have a white tailed deer there, a doe, there and a buck,” Brown said. “I will do a demonstration on how we place the eyes and the nose. I will have some skins there that will be ready to put on the form to actually show people one of the ways it is done.”

While Brown knows that many can access this information about taxidermy on the internet, he is excited to offer an experience where people can participate hands-on.

“For young kids, and even for adults, I am going to give them a chance to come up and touch a few things,” Brown shared. “You never get a chance to put your hands on that taxidermy work … but people like to touch stuff, and I am going to give them the opportunity to that as well.”

Brown retired from the United States Army in 2008 and used some of his benefits from being in the military to go to school to become a taxidermist.

While he started the business, he says that at this point it is more of a hobby.

“It morphed for me into a passion, and it is a lot of fun,” Brown said.

According to Brown, Clark Hayes completed a majority of the taxidermy in the Nature Center.

Brown’s only work displayed at the Nature Center is the Buffalo in the Great Plains display.

“If you’re interested in being a taxidermist, then this will cater to you,” Brown said. “I will do an airbrush demonstration, we will work with clay, and I hope that people, especially the adults, will take away an appreciation for the art side of this.”

“This is just a great thing to satisfy your curiosity one-on-one and be able to see it, and smell it, and touch it.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com