AIBU to remove DH's taxidermied rodent?

[msmilton]

NC although it’s specific enough anyone would know it’s me.

I’ll cut right to it, DH one day brought home a taxidermy squirrel and decided to put it on the mantelpiece of our brand new home. I asked him WTF it was and he said it was “art”. The squirrel is wearing little squirrel clothes that look a lot like something he would wear. It’s very odd. On a few different occasions I’ve removed it and hidden it somewhere else because I'm sick of looking at it but he always seems to find it and it always ends up back on the mantelpiece.

We have a DS (12) and an older family-friend who lives with us and is quite a mischievous person. I think DH knows it's me who is hiding it though.

WIBU if I threw it out or hid it somewhere harder for him to find, like the top of a bloody mountain?

I don't want it in my house but it's a sensitive topic for him. I feel like if I tell him how much I hate it he will be hurt but if it just goes missing he'll get over it.

Why is it a sensitive topic for him?

It needs to disappear on bin day imo.

Tell dh it had fleas!

Yabu that you haven't provided a picture of said clothed squirrel

Tell him you've found fleas and see what he says.

We would give it a home.... DD did one of her assessed Art essays on taxidermy. There are some really wonderful examples and the history is fascinating.

Can't you pop it in his man cave? Superglue it to his desk or workbench.

Go into the garden and look for rabbit poo, put it on the mantle behind it and watch his reaction.

Tell him. If he feels hurt about you asking for it to be moved to somewhere you can't see, he might feel much more betrayed if you throw it away.

YABU put it in a box somewhere. As it isn't your item to dispose of.

Oh and if you throw it away then you can't complain when he throws away any of your items because he decides he doesn't like them or you don't need them.

I see your squirrel and I raise you most of the main Beatrix Potter animals in taxidermy form plus a numerous birdy sidekicks in DH's 'Office'.

I hate them but he is very serious about his natural history and it is a collection of many years.

Top tip, our squirrel perished for a second time after being left in direct sunlight on a windowsill for a while....

Any cats in the area?

One of them came into the house, flew at the mantelpiece and savaged the horrible thing. You, of course, had to bury it in the garden, I would imagine.

I love the sound of this, especially the little squirrel clothes that look like his attire. Perhaps it's his spirit animal and if you get rid of it, DH will disappear! Or come back to haunt you as a giant killer squirrel!

That sounds fantastic, you’re mad to want rid of such a piece of art... and source of hilarity!

So you alone get to decide on what is allowed in your joint home? He has no say and you haven't even tried to reach a compromise, just childishly hidden something he obviously likes because you are the decorating boss? I'm really hoping you forgot to add 'light hearted' to your title!!

I love taxidermy- keep it!!!

Now if it's a red squirrel all good but if it's one of them manky grey things then it's a straight to landfill job.

Hide a lot of other things that dh needs (and would be annoying to lose) then tell him the squirrel is haunted and has summoned negative energy into the house

So... if you have an object that your DH hates, he can just throw it away without your consent? Or are you both adults that co-habit and can have adult conversations about differences and compromises?

Ha ha!!!
Every home needs zones - not in a George Clarke sense but the main living areas need to be liked by everyone. But then all members of the house need a zone in which they have full freedom to indulge their bad taste to their hearts content. So I can have my beautiful artistic pictures that I love but DH hates in the guest bedroom/my craft room, but he has a place for all his (ugly) robotic toys on a shelf I never look at in the living room!!!
P.s. mine also has an unhealthy love for dead things and in our loft we have a fox fur with the head still attached. Fortunately he has never suggested it needs to be displayed so it is staying in the attic forever!!!)

Thank you for the responses so far.

I should add that DH has a knack for meeting eccentric people and becoming very invested in their lives for a brief time before he forgets about them. It's why I think having an argument about it could lead to lasting resentment but it just disappearing means it will be forgotten about with less drama.

I do feel mean but I really hate it, feels like it's always staring at me! I've tried just hiding it so I don't need to look at it but he keeps putting it back!

Send it here, it'll be in good company with my 2 stuffed squirrels, Jim and Vangelis and the rest of my stuffed menagerie. I love taxidermy

If it means a lot to him, let him keep it.
If it mightily offends you then ask him to keep it somewhere else, out of view.
You cannot just bin his treasures.. that’s mean.
Maybe he can’t stand your stinky candles or porcelain ornaments.
How would you feel if he binned them?
I think a bit of mutual respect is needed here.

You need to convince him it’s haunted.

Put a little knife in its paw and stand it next to the bed so that he wakes up to it staring at him with a murderous look in it little glass eye.

@IaltagDhubh the squirrel is already wielding a gun which may be why I find it so sinister! DH likes his toys

There isn't anywhere else the squirrel could go unless DS wants it in his room (I don't want it in the bedroom!)