Preserving Wildlife for Education: Stehling’s Taxidermy and Our Work with Museums & Zoos
When most people think of taxidermy, they picture a hunter’s trophy mount displayed in a home or lodge. While that’s a big part of what we do, it’s far from the whole story. At Stehling’s Taxidermy, our work also extends to museums, zoological societies, and educational institutions across the country.
For over 50 years, we’ve been creating mounts and displays that don’t just preserve memories — they educate, inspire, and connect people with the natural world.
Serving Museums, Zoos & Educational Institutions
Our team is proud to partner with:
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Museums — providing lifelike mounts and detailed dioramas that engage visitors and bring exhibits to life.
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Zoos & Zoological Societies — crafting accurate, scientifically informed displays to support education, conservation, and outreach.
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Nature Centers & Schools — supplying both simple mounts and larger educational displays to help students and the public learn about wildlife.
These projects go beyond artistry; they’re about helping people understand species, habitats, and the role humans play in conservation.
Custom Dioramas and Displays
Not every project is the same — and that’s the beauty of what we do.
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Full Dioramas: We design immersive scenes complete with habitat, vegetation, and natural elements that allow viewers to experience animals in a realistic setting.
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Educational Displays: For schools, visitor centers, and traveling exhibits, we also create smaller-scale mounts that are portable, durable, and engaging.
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Custom Work: Every piece is tailored to the needs of the institution, whether it’s a centerpiece for a major exhibit or a teaching tool for the classroom.
Our experience and state-of-the-art facilities mean we can handle projects of any size, from a single bird mount to entire wildlife scenes.
Why Institutions Choose Stehling’s
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Expertise: Over 50 years of second-generation, full-time experience, trusted by hunters, museums, zoos, and retailers nationwide.
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Scale & Capacity: Wisconsin’s largest taxidermy studio — and one of the largest in the world — with our flagship facility in Jefferson and a facility in Green Bay. Together, these spaces give us the ability to take on projects of virtually any size.
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Craftsmanship: Every mount and habitat is created to museum-quality standards for accuracy, durability, and long-term display in high-traffic environments.
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Customization: From simple educational mounts to full-scale dioramas, every project is designed to meet the unique goals of each institution, retailer, or corporate client.
Getting Specimens to Us: How the Process Works
Whether you are a museum, zoo, or educational institution, our process is designed to be simple, professional, and reliable.
1. Initial Consultation
Reach out to us with details about your project — whether it’s a single specimen, an educational mount, or a large-scale diorama. We’ll discuss your goals, timeline, and any special requirements.
2. Specimen Delivery or Pickup
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Specimens can be delivered directly to either of our Wisconsin facilities (Jefferson HQ or Green Bay).
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For larger or more complex projects, we can arrange specialized pickup or shipping solutions to ensure safe transport.
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We’ll provide clear instructions on proper preparation and temporary storage before delivery, to preserve specimen quality.
3. Design & Approval
Once we have the specimen, we’ll work with you to design the final display. This may include habitat dioramas, educational panels, or custom mounting styles. Nothing moves forward until you approve the plan.
4. Creation
Our team of second-generation taxidermists brings your project to life in one of the largest taxidermy studios in the world. We use museum-grade materials and techniques to ensure your mount is accurate, durable, and exhibition-ready.
5. Delivery & Installation
When complete, we offer flexible delivery options — from crate shipping to on-site installation for larger dioramas or exhibit pieces.
