Crafting Sustainability: The Art and Ethics of May Baril’s Jackalope Taxidermy

Pia Diamandis -

Jackalopes are mythical horned rabbits that exist in legends and fantasies. Canadian taxidermist May Baril brings them to life by combining real rabbit hide with horns and antlers. Baril sources her rabbit hides from rabbit meat farms, highlighting how these slaughterhouses generate so many byproducts that otherwise would have gone to waste. This is why May Baril’s pieces are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Life on Land and Responsible Consumption and Production.

White and grey Jackalope taxidermy with albino eyes and real antlers by May Baril. Image courtesy of May Baril’s website.

A study published in ScienceDirect found that rabbit meat farms generate 3.86 kg carbon dioxide/live weight. This number is slightly higher than the average chicken meat farm and exactly the same as pork farms. This carbon footprint occurs due to the rabbit’s high feed consumption. Rabbits require copious amounts of hay daily, much like cows do. It is also important to know that beef farms are some of the world’s most notorious carbon emitters with similar feed inefficiency rates. Hence, it is only fitting that initiatives such as Baril’s help to reduce waste generated by rabbit meat farms.

White and grey Jackalope taxidermy with albino eyes and real antlers by May Baril. Image courtesy of May Baril’s website.

On her website, Baril emphasizes that she only taxidermies animals who have died due to natural causes or, as with her Jackalopes, are carcasses sourced from farms. Despite this, May Baril has frequently received online hate comments from people who find her work too macabre and cruel. However, she also frequently addresses that her work is akin to those of ethical leather tanners and artisans, who try their best to use every part of an animal to reduce waste. Baril has also shown extensive dedication to her craft, with 15 years of experience in the field, five of those being her working full time.

Black Jackalope with black horns & red Eyes by May Baril. Image courtesy of May Baril’s website.

May Baril’s taxidermy Jackalopes bring mythical creatures to life and address critical issues of waste management and sustainability in rabbit meat farms. Despite criticism for her work's perceived macabre nature, Baril’s dedication to ethical practices and waste reduction is ever present in her craftsmanship and commitment to sustainability. At the end of the day, she realistically conveys her message, showcasing that creative solutions to environmental challenges are possible.

Golden Jackalope taxidermy with teal eyes, real antlers and a necklace by May Baril. Image courtesy of May Baril’s website.

Find out more about jackal ops taxidermies by May Baril and their other pieces by checking their Instagram on @may.jackalope.