Patent ID: 7494407

Claim:
A taxidermic ear opening tool for use upon an animal's ear which has skin with an underside thereof connected to cartilage, comprising: a tool body; a hook member fixedly connected to the tool body and having at least one prong that is engageable with the underside of the skin so as to secure the tool body with respect thereto; a rod having a longitudinal axis and opposing front and rear ends, the rod being received by the tool body so as to allow longitudinal movement of the rod with respect to the tool body; a separation member fixedly connected to the rod at or closely adjacent to its front end, the separation member lying in a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the rod; and a rod advancement means for moving the rod and associated separation member longitudinally and forwardly, whereby such forward movement of the separation member as positioned between the skin and cartilage separates the skin from the cartilage.