• Handle ALL specimens carefully and with respect. Replacing damaged specimens means killing additional animals. There are some specimens that are IRREPLACEABLE!!!
• Place 1 "wet" specimen in a tray for examination at a time. Keep the jar right in front of you, so that the specimen can be returned to the correct jar.
  • If these "wet" specimens are left out for long periods, they dry out and become useless.
• ALL specimens should be picked up by the center of the body - NEVER by legs, tail, head, fins, or wings only. This is especially true of dried skins of birds and mammals.
• Many specimens are very fragile from repeated use. Do not pile specimens on top of each other - particularly skulls!! Bones are easily broken.
• NEVER touch ANY specimen with a pen or pencil. Marks cannot be removed (as you will see on some materials) & marks ruin the specimen's value.
• Specimens will usually be laid out on the tables with a particular organization. Be sure to return specimens to their correct location after examination.

• You may store tools, lab clothes & other gear in assigned spaces within the prep room.Keep your stuff tidy.
• Respect other individual's equipment & don't borrow without asking.If you wish to examine another person's cat or shark, ask the owners first.
• Be sure to return all cat or shark specimens to their correct location in the prep room.

• Eating & drinking are NOT allowed in the lab once we begin dissections.
• After dissections, clean your workbench space.Throw away all of your trash - don't leave it at the desks.
• Animal waste goes into a special bucket in the prep room, NOT into the sinks or into trash.
• Paper towels & used gloves do not belong in the sinks. These go into regular trash.

LAB RECYCLING

• All students are expected to properly dispose of clean paper in the paper recycling bin in the lab.
• Empty plastic drink containers or aluminum cans should be placed in the recycling bin in the hallway.  Caps should be removed from plastic drink containers.