Hi All: The Slater Museum of Natural History in Tacoma (www.ups.edu/slatermuseum.xml) accepts dead birds and small animals, herps, insects as well as plant specimens. My contact information is below and at http://www.ups.edu/x6118.xml. For Vashon Islanders, there is a cooler for drop off by my garage door at 10925 SW Bank Rd. Please place the item in a freezer bag with your contact information (if questions arise), date found, location found, and how died.

Queries regarding salvage legalities, hazards, digital images of "what bird is this" or nature and biodiversity in general are answered in a timely manner.

Driving DirectionsThe Slater Museum is located in the east wing of Thompson Hall (Room 295). The nearest intersection for a driving reference is North Union Ave. and N 14th St, Tacoma, WA. For directions, visit google maps and enter the destination of "North Union Ave & 14th St, Tacoma, WA 98416" then just right click "direction from here" while pointing to your location. Free and easy parking can be found in the lot for Thompson Hall or usually within a block on nearby on the streets. We are about 10 min off I-5 if you are returning from the coast and have found something interesting or would like identified.

For a overview of bird mortality and the number of birds that could be salvaged see: http://www.sibleyguides.com/mortality.htm. It numbers are staggering.

Salvage specimens do comprise an important component of research and teaching collections. In research collections the specimens provide the foundation for understanding biodiversity by vouchering what species exist in time and space. And yes, I do want another robin. We also have innovative ways of making attractive and resilient teaching specimens. If you are interested in the art of making specimens contact me off list.

Gary Shugart Collections ManagerSlater Museum of Natural History University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA 98416 253 879-3356 (museum) 206 463-2169 (home) gshugart at ups.edu, gwshugart at hotmail.com http://www.ups.edu/slatermuseum.xml http://digitalcollections.ups.edu