What equipment do you need to dissect pellets

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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Illustrations copyright Andy Hamilton
Children dissecting owl pellets at the British Birdwatching Fair - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2000_1575_009)