What equipment do you need to dissect pellets

Children dissecting owl pellets at the British Birdwatching Fair
Dissecting owl pellets at an RSPB Wildlife Explorers event

You will need:

  •  Fine tweezers or forceps, cocktail sticks, straightened wire paper clips etc.
  • Small pot (e.g. margarine tub) for soaking pellets and cleaning the items removed from them.
  • A few drops of antiseptic or disinfectant (preferably one that doesnt go cloudy when water is added, e.g. Savlon).
  • Newspaper for blotting excess moisture from pellets and their contents.
  • A hand lens or other suitable magnifier (preferably x8 or x10). Best of all would be a dissecting microscope.
  • A shallow dish or a tray to dissect the pellet on.
  • Card and glue for mounting your finds.
  • Gloves to wear when handling and dissecting pellets. Surgical gloves (available from chemists) or thin rubber gloves are ideal. 
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