Boiling your own bear skull can be a rewarding experience.  Having this done by a taxidermist will cost you $100+...So, if you have the time and the inclination, why not save your money and at the same time, learn from this experience.  This project can be finished in one day.  You will need:

• a skull

• stove (and your wife's permission to use it)

• pot (and your wife's permission to use it)

• Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda)

• knives

• some pieces of bare 12 or 14 gauge copper wire

Start by removing as much flesh from the head as you possibly can (including the tongue and eyes).

Set the fleshed skull into a pot of water and bring to a boil. Over-boiling may cause your skull to fracture.  Turn down the heat, add a half cup of arm & hammer washing soda, cover, and let simmer for two hours.  Watch the pot for boil-over...Your wife will not be happy if this happens...You only need enough heat to keep the water simmering!

Remove the head from the pot (be careful as the lower jaw may drop away).  Remove the lower jaw.  Do not throw out the water...teeth may have come loose/fallen out during the cooking.  After removing the head, account for all of the teeth (some are very small) and only then, dump the water from the pot.

Before rinsing the skull off, check for any loose teeth.  Any tooth that is loose should be removed now, before you rinse the skull off (write down the location of each tooth removed so you can put it back in the same hole).  Set aside any teeth you have removed.  Place a screen over the drain in your sink and rinse off the skull.  Most remaining flesh will come away easily.  The brain cavity will require extra attention; direct the full force of the water tap into the brain cavity, the brain will break apart and come out in chunks...keep working it until you have it all out.  There are numerous membranes hanging on as well, in the ear canal and in the various cavities in the skull.  You can work out these stubborn membranes using a piece of copper wire.  After you are satisfied with your work, set the skull aside and let it dry.

After the skull is dry, replace the teeth that were removed.  Super Glue works fine.  Check for any other loose teeth.  If any are loose, just squeeze some Super Glue between the tooth and the bone.