Thunder Bay woman carving out a name for herself in taxidermy

What started as a hobby for Jamie Black is now a full-time business.

The Thunder Bay, Ont. woman opened her taxidermy service after she was laid off from her job in mining.

Working in a traditionally male-dominated profession wasn't always easy especially when she didn't have a portfolio of her work to show prospective clients.

"Just being a female in the industry has been difficult," Black said.

It's for that reason she doesn't put her name on her business card. Black said that in the past, she has lost business because people found out she was a woman.

Black attributes the hesitancy to using a female taxidermist to a lack of understanding.

"90 per cent of my work is sculpting, painting, and grooming and anyone who is artistic can excel at it," she said

Black is currently doing a mount of a whole moose for a wildlife display in Red Rock, Ontario.

Click on the link above to hear Outdoor columnist, Gord Ellis, speaking to Superior Morning host, Lisa Laco, about Jamie Black and Black and Tan Taxidermy