Tradition: American Mythology
Alternative Names: Jack Rabbit, Horned Rabbit, Lepus antilocapra
Category: Rabbit
The Myth
The Jackalope is a legendary North American creature resembling a jackrabbit with antelope-like horns or deer antlers. It is usually portrayed as a rabbit with a hare’s body and branching horns, and is one of the best-known examples of the tall-tale animals called fearsome critters. According to humorous legends, jackalopes are dangerous and difficult to hunt, so hunters must wear stovepipes over their legs to protect themselves from being gored. They are said to enjoy drinking whiskey, imitate human voices around campfires, and sing along with cowboys in a tenor voice. Some stories claim they breed only during lightning storms, which supposedly explains their rarity.
The jackalope became especially popular in the United States during the 1930s, when Douglas Herrick and his brother, taxidermists from Douglas, Wyoming, began attaching deer antlers to jackrabbit carcasses and selling the resulting mounts. Their creations helped turn the creature into a local legend and a popular tourist attraction. Jackalope mounts, postcards, souvenirs, and other merchandise subsequently spread throughout the country, and the animal became associated with Wyoming’s identity.
Although the modern American jackalope was popularized through taxidermy and tall tales, legends of horned hares existed in other cultures long before its creation. One possible explanation for some historical reports of horned rabbits is infection with Shope papillomavirus, which can cause horn-like growths on rabbits’ heads and bodies. The jackalope remains a playful mixture of folklore, practical jokes, and regional identity, blurring the line between mythical beast and deliberate hoax.
Sources
“Jackalope.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackalope