The truth is out there - share it with your friends!

The Jackalope is a fascinating cryptid that is found in North American Folklore and is thought to have originated in the early 1900s in Wyoming, United States.

Cryptid Name:Jackalope
Location:Wyoming and surrounding states.
Map of where the Jackolope is foudn
Category:Folklore Cryptid
Description:Hybrid cryptid that is described as a jackrabbit and deer antlers.
Size:Typically described as being the size of a rabbit.
Behavior/Characteristics:Elusive and rarely seen.
Diet:Herbivore.
Habitat/Environment:Open grasslands and forests.
Evidence:Taxidermy mounts and folk art.
Sightings and Encounters:No scientific evidence.
Skepticism/Explanations:Most people agree that it is a confirmed hoax.

What Does The Jackalope Look Like?

Picture of a Jackalope (artist's impression)
Artist’s Impression of a Jackalope

The Jackalope is described as a hybrid between a jackrabbit and an antelope. It has the general appearance of a rabbit, including long ears and short tail and its fur varies in color.

The most iconic feature of the jackalope is the branched antlers that it has on its head which are similar to those of a deer.

It is described as being about the size of a typical rabbit with the exception that it can run at speeds of up to 90 miles an hour!

Are Jackalopes Real Or A Myth?

Mounted Jackalope Taxidermy
A Mounted Jackalope Taxidermy
Source: Jimsy2, Public domain

Unfortunately, Jackalopes are not real. And, while stories and legends about mythical rabbits that resemble the Jackalope go back for centuries, especially in Europe, the legend of the Jackalope as we know it began in 1932 when two brothers, Douglas, and Ralph Herrick went on a hunting trip.

During their trip, they managed to shoot a jackrabbit and when they returned home Douglas tossed the carcass of the jackrabbit onto the floor next to a pair of deer antlers. Douglas had studied taxidermy and when he saw the jackrabbit lying next to the deer antlers he decided to put together the first Jackalope using his taxidermy skills.

The first jackalope taxidermy was sold to a local hotel and before long they became incredibly popular and the brothers began selling them to the public. The craze spread rapidly and soon you could find taxidermies and images of the jackalope everywhere from taverns, to homes, to postcards, etc.

Newspaper article featuring the legend of the Jackalope myth
Newspaper Clipping Featuring The Legend Of The Jackalope
Source: City Of Douglas

Jackalope Hunting Licence

The jackalope became so popular that the Douglas Chamber of Commerce started issuing Jackalope Hunting Licenses to tourists for only one day a year: 31 June – bearing in mind that June only has 30 days! The original licenses specified that hunters had to have an IQ of greater than 50 but not over 72 and that you could only hunt it between midnight and 2 a.m. Even though the hunting license is a gag, it hasn’t stopped thousands of people from buying it since it was released!

Jackalope Hunting Licence
Jackalope Hunting Licence
Source: City Of Douglas

Jackalope Statue

In the 1940s Douglas proclaimed itself the “Jackalope Capital of the World” and in 1965 it erected an 8 foot / 2.4 meter stature of the Jackalope to celebrate the local legend that has brought fame to its town.

Statue of the Jackalope in Douglas, Wyoming
Statue of the Jackalope – Douglas, Wyoming
Source: Montanabw, CC BY-SA 4.0

Jackalope Days Celebration

The Jackalope Days Celebration is an annual event that takes place in Douglas, Wyoming every year. It celebrates the legend of the jackalope and is a fun-filled festival for all ages. It includes different events such as a car show, live music, food vendors, a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, and much more.

Similar Cryptids

Resources

The truth is out there - share it with your friends!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *