Erling Haaland-Inspired Halloween Costume Gives Taxidermy a Hair-Raising Twist
Following the viral image of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland stepping off a plane in Norway carrying a taxidermied raccoon, PETA US is giving the animal the last laugh with a tongue-in-cheek Halloween costume that reminds everyone wild animals belong in nature, not on display.
Available now for preorder, PETA US’s limited-edition “The Raccoon Strikes Back” costume imagines a world in which the raccoon gets a little revenge by taking a pair of scissors to Haaland’s famous man bun.
The costume was inspired by a photograph Haaland shared on Instagram after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, showing him carrying a stuffed raccoon he reportedly purchased in Dallas, Texas. The unusual souvenir quickly became an online talking point, with the image spreading across social media and sports news outlets.
What You’ll Get
The costume includes a Viking helmet, a football jersey, and a Haaland mask depicting a raccoon snipping away at the football star’s trademark hairstyle. Available from the PETA US store for $70 (£51.99), the costume turns one of the summer’s most talked-about celebrity photos into a playful statement against the use of animals as decorations. All proceeds support PETA US’s work for animals.
The Truth Behind Taxidermy
Taxidermy is closely associated with trophy hunting and the commercialisation of dead animals. It involves preserving an animal’s skin and mounting it for exhibition, and many animals whose bodies end up with taxidermists are killed by hunters before being skinned, stuffed, and treated with chemicals.
The practice reduces complex, intelligent individuals to decorative objects. Raccoons, for example, are highly inquisitive animals known for their impressive problem-solving abilities. They can complete intricate tasks and remember solutions for extended periods. In nature, mother raccoons devote months to caring for and teaching their young, helping them learn the skills needed to survive independently.
Animals are Someone, Not Something
We hope that the costume will encourage people to think twice before treating animals as decorations or status symbols and instead, see them as the sensitive beings they are, with lives, families, and interests of their own.
Go Vegan Today!
Help all animals by pledging to never eat, wear, or buy them. Sign up to our vegan pledge:
Help Animals in 2026: Renew Your PETA Membership!
Donate Now
