Natural History Specimens Natural history specimens such as bird mounts, animal mounts and mineral specimens are extremely fragile and can be made from many different materials including leather, bone, glass, wood, stone, metal, etc. They are very complex and often very reactive to their environment. Some are susceptible to pest attack and many historic organic specimens have been treated with harmful pesticides in the past. Owners should be careful when handling these materials. Wear gloves and wash your hands frequently when handling these items. These objects are cared for by objects conservators, some of whom have specialized in natural history objects. More Resources (pdf) Cleaning Organic Materials   If you have any questions, ask a conservator.

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