Want to collect and clean bones, but I'm terrified of diseases and I live in a busy city. How do you do it?
Hi everyone,
I have a deep fascination with finding and photographing dead animals. I really love the aesthetic and the idea of having fully sterilized bones or skulls displayed in my home.
But.. I have two major hurdles. First, I am absolutely terrified of catching a disease. Even when I'm just taking photos im so paranoid about bacteria that I can barely bring myself to use a stick to move branches out of the way or shoo away the flies and maggots. the decomposition process really grosses me out, but the end result (clean, sterile bones) is something I really want to achieve.
secondly, I live in a city. Picking up a deceased animal (like a bird or roadkill) from the street or a public park feels like it would draw so much unwanted attention. I’m really selfconscious about people staring, judging me, or thinking I'm crazy if they see me bagging up a carcass in the middle of a sidewalk.
for those of you who collect and process your own finds, especially in urban areas, how do you handle this?
How do you discreetly collect animals in public without looking completely suspicious?
How do you handle the transition from a decaying carcass to a perfectly sterile bone when you are extremely anxious about germs and bugs?
Any advice on protective gear, safe handling methods, or step-by-step sterilization guides for an anxious. Thanks!