A squirrel is a very small animal and if you have the right tools, skinning one is very fast. Once it is skinned it is important to clean it with warm, soapy water as soon as possible. You want to remove any dirt or blood that could be left behind, and apply an antiseptic to any sores or wounds the squirrel may have. After the squirrel is cleaned with the soap, you can rinse it off and let it dry. Finally, you can give it some fresh food and water to make sure that it is nourished and healthy.

To start skinning the squirrel, lay it on its back and place your hand over the tail. With your other hand grab the squirrel around the body behind the rear legs. Gently pull the fur away from the tail until it is completely off. Now, using a pocket knife or a small paring knife, make a cut at the base of the tailbone. This will reveal the flesh underneath and allow you to easily cut it off.

After cutting the tail, make a shallow knife cut into the chest and pull out the heart and lungs, being careful not to puncture the intestines. Once the organs have been removed, use your shears to split the pelvis and remove any last bits of intestines that might be stuck in there (if you’re working with a female it’s important to check for the ovaries at this point as well).

Once all of the innards have been taken out, spray the carcass down with a hose nozzle set on a flat setting until you can no longer see any more blood on it. If you have a decontamination station set up with disinfectant wipes, you can also use them to thoroughly wipe down the carcass and clean it off.