Why We Still Need Taxidermy

Many newer exhibitions tend to avoid using mounted specimens.  They’re often considered a maintenance hassle.  Plus, why have animals that visitors can’t touch? But I believe old-fashioned taxidermy is essential for interpreting wildlife, especially when it comes to kids.

As an interpretive naturalist, my job is to get elementary school children out of the classroom and into nature.  Having spent a lot of time outdoors with children, I can tell you that the one thing that kids are most interested in and excited about is the possibility of seeing real, live animals, mammals in particular.  Days before their field trip, the idea of getting to see a bunny, coyote, deer or a bobcat in its native habitat grows in the minds of these kids, and when they get off the bus their excitement in palpable. Of course, the likelihood of catching a glimpse any of these animals is pretty small when you’ve got a group of a hundred screaming third graders.

Short of experiencing a live wild animal, a taxidermied specimen is the next best thing. The Environmental Nature Center of Newport Beach, where I work, has a fantastic display of specimens in its entry way.  Seeing the real taxidermied animals elicits oohs and aahs on the scale of a fireworks show. The kids are amazed to hear that the animals are real and take extra time to really see what the animal looks like.

Pelts and skulls on display provide a rare opportunity for visitors to interact with the animals in a way that would be otherwise impossible. They can actually run their hands over the thick fur of a beaver. They can see the differences in shapes and sizes of skulls. They can touch a skunk without getting sprayed.

Interacting so closely with animals inspires some very important questions in the minds of youngsters. Why does this animal look the way it does? Why is it shaped that way? Why is it that color? Look at its teeth. What might it eat?

These are experiences that simply can’t be achieved through words and pictures.

Labels that every taxidermy exhibit should have

On the other hand, displays of mounted specimens need a little bit of text. Too often, especially in smaller nature centers, labeling fails to address visitors’ most common questions, putting the onus entirely on staff, who may not always be immediately available. Fortunately, the solution is easy. If exhibit developers plan for these very predicatable questions, they will both engage the visitor and circumvent some of the problems or complaints often anticipated with mounted specimens.

1. Did we kill it?

Both children and adults will want to know how you procured your animals. Did you shoot them? (Hopefully, answer is “No!”) Whatever the story may be, it is valuable for the public to know that no animals were intentionally harmed in the acquisition of the specimens. One of your labels should briefly explain how the animals came to be in your possession.

2. Why can’t I touch it?

I hardly ever see an answer to this question on mounted specimen displays, but people always want to know why they can’t touch the animals. Your label can explain that specimens are expensive to prepare, and that it is important to keep them clean of dirt and oils. This question is also a wonderful opportunity to teach children that they shouldn’t touch wild animals — dead or alive! Instead, invite visitors to touch the pelts and skulls that you have on display nearby.

3. What is it?

I frequently hear children asking their parents about the animals on display. And, because there’s no label, parents make something up. A large coyote may look a lot like a wolf, but coyotes and wolves are very different creatures, living different lifestyles in different habitats. Identification labels prevent parents from spreading misinformation to their children, and can even engage visitors by surprising them when the ‘wolf’ turns out to be a coyote.

I know from experience that the educational benefits of taxidermied animals are vital for nature centers.  If every display of mounted specimens included these labels, I think taxidermy would enjoy a more positive reputation in the interpretive world.   After all, real animals make for an experience that has a lasting resonance, for both children and adults.