Jackalope

The jackalope is a made-up animal.

It looks like a jackrabbit with antelope horns. Some people say it can sing like a person.

Two brothers in Wyoming made them long ago. They put real antlers on rabbit skins. They sold these to a local hotel. Now, people find jackalope toys in many stores. It is a very fun and silly legend.

The jackalope is a famous made-up animal. It is a jackrabbit with antelope horns.

The name comes from joining the words jackrabbit and antelope. Many people believe the legend came from a virus. This virus can cause bumps on a rabbit's head. These bumps look like small horns.

In the 1930s, two brothers made jackalopes to sell. They used real deer antlers and rabbit skins. They sold their first one to a hotel in Wyoming. Now, you can find jackalope toys in many stores. Some people even sell jackalope milk or postcards.

Tall tales say the jackalope is very silly. Some stories say it can mimic the human voice. It might even sing like a person! Other tales say they only breed during lightning storms. The state of Wyoming has even tried to make it their official myth. It is a fun part of North American culture.

The jackalope is a famous mythical animal from North American folklore. It is described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The name is a portmanteau, which means it joins the words jackrabbit and antelope.

Many people find this creature very interesting. It belongs to a group of stories called fearsome critters. These are legendary animals used in tall tales. They often bring a sense of humor to North American culture.

Some people believe the legend has a real basis in nature. Researchers suggest that sightings of horned hares might come from a virus. This is called the Shope papilloma virus. It can cause horn-like tumors to grow on a rabbit's head.

Dr. Richard E. Shope described these findings in 1933. He studied wild rabbits in Iowa and Kansas. People often called these animals "horned" or "warty" rabbits. This real biological event likely inspired many ancient legends.

Stories of horned animals have appeared in many cultures for a long time. A 13th-century Persian work shows a rabbit with one horn. In Europe, the horned rabbit was part of folklore in places like Bavaria.

Even old scientific books included illustrations of these hybrids. Joris Hoefnagel made a famous illustration around 1575. By the end of the 18th century, scientists no longer believed they were real species. However, the idea lived on in many different traditions.

Modern jackalopes were popularized by Douglas Herrick and his brother in the 1930s. They were skilled at taxidermy, which is the art of preparing animal skins. They grafted deer antlers onto a jackrabbit carcass. They sold their first creation to a hotel in Douglas, Wyoming, for $10.

Later, Frank English sold many jackalopes in South Dakota. He even supplied them to the company Cabela's. Today, you can find jackalope items in many gift shops and bars.

Tall tales about the jackalope are quite silly and fun. Some legends say they can mimic the human voice or even sing. Others claim they only breed during lightning flashes.

The state of Wyoming has even considered making it an official state symbol. The Wyoming Legislature looked at several bills to make it a state mythological creature. Even the Wyoming Lottery has used a jackalope logo named YoLo. It remains a beloved part of many stories and songs.

The jackalope is a mythical creature found in North American folklore. It is described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The name is a portmanteau, which means it combines the words "jackrabbit" and "antelope."

This creature belongs to a group of legendary animals called fearsome critters. These are fabulous beasts used in tall tales. They are common in North American culture since the turn of the twentieth century. Entrepreneurs often use these creatures to create comic hoaxes. Such hoaxes can bring attention or fortune to a specific region.

Some researchers believe the legend has a biological basis. They suggest that sightings of horned hares were inspired by the Shope papilloma virus. This virus was described by Dr. Richard E. Shope in 1933. He examined wild rabbits in Iowa and Kansas. The virus causes horn-like or antler-like tumors to grow on a rabbit's head and body.

People popularly referred to these infected animals as "horned" or "warty" rabbits. These real biological changes likely fueled many ancient stories across the world.

Stories of animal hybrids appear in many different cultures and eras. A 13th-century Persian work depicts a rabbit with a single horn. In Europe, the horned rabbit appeared in Bavarian folklore as the wolpertinger. Even early natural history texts included these creatures. Joris Hoefnagel created an illustration of a horned hare around 1575.

Scientific texts like "Historiae Naturalis de Quadrupetibus Libri" included them. However, scientists generally rejected the horned hare as a real species by the late 18th century.

The modern American jackalope was popularized in the 1930s. Douglas Herrick and his brother were hunters with taxidermy skills. Taxidermy is the art of preparing and mounting animal skins. The brothers accidentally combined a jackrabbit carcass with deer antlers. They sold their first creation to Roy Ball for $10.

Ball displayed the mount at the La Bonte Hotel in Douglas, Wyoming. This event helped spark the popularity of the jackalope in the United States.

Douglas, Wyoming, has become a major center for jackalope lore. The local Chamber of Commerce issues Jackalope Hunting Licenses to tourists. These licenses are for a nonexistent hunting season on June 31. The rules state hunters must have an IQ between 50 and 72. Thousands of these licenses have been issued to visitors. There is even a jackalope statue in the town. The community also hosts an annual Jackalope Days Celebration every June.

Other people have also contributed to the jackalope industry. Frank English of South Dakota has sold thousands of jackalopes since 1981. He is the only supplier of these mounted heads to Cabela's. His standard jackalopes sell for about $150. The jackalope has also entered official government discussions. The Wyoming Legislature has considered several bills to make it the official state mythological creature. While the bills did not pass, the Wyoming Lottery used a jackalope logo named YoLo in 2014.

Tall tales about the jackalope include many humorous and outlandish claims. Some legends say the creatures can mimic the human voice. They are even said to sing as tenors while cowboys camp. Other stories claim they can mimic a chainsaw or other mammal calls. Some people believe they only breed during lightning flashes. These myths make the jackalope a constant subject in popular culture. It appears in books, television shows, video games, and even music logos.