Which of the following is a reason to avoid public contact with taxidermy specimens?

• A. It improves educational outcomes.
• B. Older specimens were preserved with arsenic and could be a danger to the public.
• C. It is cheaper to display replicas.
• D. It attracts more visitors.

Answer: (D)

Public contact with taxidermy specimens is avoided primarily because many older specimens were preserved with arsenic-based chemicals. Arsenic residues can pose a health risk through skin contact or incidental hand-to-mouth transfer, making it unsafe for the public to handle them. This safety concern is why replicas or sealed displays are preferred for public viewing. The other points describe educational value, cost, or visitor appeal, which do not address the real hazard posed by arsenic in older specimens. In practice, use non-toxic replicas or ensure displays are secure and hands-off to protect visitors.