Editing Taxidermy (section)

===Freeze-dried mount===
[[File:Freeze-dried rattlesnake.jpg|thumb|Example of [[Dermestidae|dermestid beetle]] damage to a freeze-dried taxidermy mount of a rattlesnake]]

An increasingly popular trend is to [[freeze dry|freeze-dry]] the animal. For all intents and purposes, a freeze-dried mount is a mummified animal. The internal organs are removed during preparation; however, all other tissue remains in the body. (The skeleton and all accompanying musculature is still beneath the surface of the skin) The animal is positioned into the desired pose, then placed into the chamber of a special freeze-drying machine designed specifically for this application. The machine freezes the animal and also creates a vacuum in the chamber. Pressure in the chamber helps vaporize moisture in the animal's body, allowing it to dry out. The rate of drying depends on [[vapor pressure]]. (The higher the pressure, the faster the specimen dries.)<ref name="Freezeco">{{cite web|url=https://www.freezedryco.com/taxidermy_freeze_drying.html|title=Feeze Dry Taxidermy|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=freezedryco.com|access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref> Vapor pressure is determined by the temperature of the chamber; the higher the temperature, the higher the vapor pressure is at a given [[Vacuum#Outgassing|vacuum]].<ref name="Freezeco"/> The length of the dry-time is important because rapid freezing creates less tissue distortion (i.e.; shrinkage, warping, and wrinkling)<ref name="Freezeco"/> The process can be done with reptiles, birds, and small mammals such as cats, rodents, and some dogs. Large specimens may require up to six months in the freeze dryer before they are completely dry. Freeze-drying is the most popular type of pet preservation. This is because it is the least invasive in terms of what is done to the animal's body after death, which is a concern of owners (Most owners do not opt for a traditional skin mount).
In the case of large pets, such as dogs and cats, freeze-drying is also the best way to capture the animal's expression as it looked in life (another important concern of owners). Freeze-drying equipment is costly and requires much upkeep. The process is also time-consuming; therefore, freeze-drying is generally an expensive method to preserve an animal. The drawback to this method is that freeze-dried mounts are extremely susceptible to insect damage. This is because they contain large areas of dried tissue (meat and fat) for insects to feed upon. Traditional mounts are far less susceptible because they contain virtually no residual tissues (or none at all). Regardless of how well a taxidermy mount is prepared, all taxidermy is susceptible to insect damage. Taxidermy mounts are targeted by the same [[Dermestidae|beetles]] and [[Tineola bisselliella|fabric moths]] that destroy wool sweaters and fur coats and that infest grains and flour in pantries.<ref name=bugs>{{cite web|url= https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/03-11.pdf|title= Identifying Museum Insect Pest damage |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 2008 |publisher=National Park Service|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>