Jackalope

HIPPO EATS DWARF:
A Field Guide to Hoaxes
and Other B.S.

Jackalope

Kingdom: Animalia
Location found: western North America

The jackalope is an antlered species of rabbit found throughout the western United States. The jackalope has two unusual qualities. First, it is highly aggressive and is willing to use its antlers to fight. (Thus, it is sometimes called the "warrior rabbit.") Second, it has an uncanny ability to mimic human voices. In the old West, when cowboys would gather by their campfires to sing at night, jackalopes would frequently be heard singing back, mimicking the voices of the cowboys. When chased, jackalopes use their vocal abilities to elude capture by calling out phrases such as, "There he goes, over there," to throw pursuers off their track.

The traditional method of catching jackalopes is to lure them with whiskey, since they are extremely fond of this drink. Once intoxicated, the animal becomes slower and easier to hunt. Some people attempt to catch jackalopes in order to milk them, believing that their milk is a powerful aphrodisiac. However, it is not advised to milk a jackalope! It is curious to note, however, that jackalope milk comes out already homogenized on account of the animal's powerful leaps.

Douglas, Wyoming has declared itself to be the Jackalope capital of America because, according to legend, the first jackalope was spotted there around 1829. A large statue of a jackalope stands in the town center, and every year the town plays host to Jackalope Day, usually held in June. Jackalope hunting licenses can be obtained from the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, though hunting of jackalopes is restricted to the hours of midnight to 2 a.m. on June 31.

It is common to find mounted jackalope heads in bars and homes throughout the American west. Douglas and Ralph Herrick, residents of Douglas, Wyoming, were the first to start selling such heads during the 1930s. Jackalope postcards are also a popular Western souvenir.

Total Comments: 58

Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.

Page 3 of 3 pages < 1 2 3

Hey, Jackalopes do exsist. They are not actually jackalopes, but merely rabbits with a very rare disease. Jackolopes originated from cowboy stories, and people can do taxidermy art and make fictional animals out of real animals: http://www.customcreaturetaxidermy.com/fantasy/fantasy.html
The disease not only puts antlers on the top of the rabbits head, but all over its face: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/jack07ukansas.jpg their not very pretty
I hope this information helps. so Jackalopes AREN'T real, but there is a disease, and often times they are called Jackalopes and so the fictionous jackalopes are in a way real.
Posted by kk in mn on Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 07:05 PM

A wise horned bunny
Once revealed the truth to me-
"Jackalopes can't talk."
Posted by Sokotra in Kansas on Wed Feb 14, 2007 at 05:00 PM

Jackalopes are definetly real,although it isnt a species, just a strange reaction to a virus.The virus is fairly common in wild rabbits but only a few display this strange reaction.The horns are just on the top of the head.They can grow on th rest of the body,and the face.

The mutation isnt only in America either.There are loads of creatures following the same basic desription.There is the Raurack and rasselbock of Germany and the Miraj of Asia (interestingly that one is yellow and carnivourous).
Posted by J on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:01 AM

I found a jackalope in guadalajara, jalisco while hiking one of the mountains in the area. Me and my wife caught it and brought it to Texas. Its about 23 inches and his antlers are pretty small but steadily growing. we feed it vegetables but he tends to like raw meat. Its a pretty vicious animal but only with people that he doesnt recognize. Its great having a jackalope because he protects the house very good. The kids love him, great pet, highly recommended.
Posted by Eric S in texas on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:58 AM

Back in '91 I was working at White Sands Missile Range outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. I was driving a dump truck through the wide open spaces when I saw a small animal ahead of me, running towards the road I was on. I figured it was a coyote or a rabbit so I accelerated in an attempt to spook the animal in good fun. As we got closer I could see it was a rabbit with something rigid extending from it's head. I'm a city boy but I didn't think that rabbit's ran with their ears extended rigidly over their heads. As it crossed the road about 20 feet ahead of me I could clearly see that it WAS in fact a rabbit but it had ANTLERS on its head. That's right, actual antlers like a deer or elk but not as big in proportion.
I got back to the job site and I excitedly told my co-workers of my sighting. Some of them were locals and outdoorsmen but they thought I was joking. I insisted I wasn't lying but they still didn't believe me.
I never believed in jackalopes, thinking they were just myth like a unicorn or a leprauchan, until I saw one with my very own eyes. Folks, jackalopes really DO exist. And NO I wasn't drunk or on drugs!!
Posted by nakohead415 in San Francisco, California on Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 04:55 PM

:0 i think that you should not be aloud to go and hunt down little creatures that haven't don eanyhting to us.to them it is just cruel and unusual punishment
Posted by maddi in Waverly, IA on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 03:47 PM

I thought these were real!
The jackalope--note to self
Order the T-shirt.

Sally
Posted by Sally Pursell in St. Louis, Missouri, USA on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 03:58 PM

Jackalope under
fierce prairie skies. A leap!
Antlers in chrome grill.
Posted by Esri Rose in Colorado on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 03:47 PM

seen a j.lope in az,
boyfriend nearly shat,
went back to cali.,
and that was that!

okay, so it's not haiku. atleast it rhymes.

love,
Barbara
Posted by barbara in socal near indio on Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 11:52 AM

Jackalope whiskey
Horny Hare aphrodisiac
Jack's not a dull boy
Posted by Diana Ward in Aurora, Missouri, USA on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:24 PM

Actually, Jackalopes do exist but not in the form people believe. Shope's virus causes antler like growth on rabbits.

It is beleived that this is what started the Jackalope legend.

Don't believe me, do some research.
Posted by T. P. in Nebraska on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 12:24 PM

I have a can of Jacklope milk that is about fifty years old. It comes from the Kyburz lodge on Hy 50 in northern California. Have you ever heard of this, or seen a can?
Gary
Posted by Gary Cecchettini in 1225 Monument dr. South Lake Tahoe Ca., 96150 on Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 01:57 PM

This is the most talented piece of internet writing/blogs I ever saw! We laughed so much!
It is perfect, and mimicks a scientific article in an excellent way. Thank you for this great fun!
Please reply if you can, I would love to get in touch with the author (maybe some other lovely pieces are available to read?)
Posted by Lena in UK on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 08:56 AM

the jackalope is very real though ive never seen one, but seeing isn't always believing a skam of something fake wouldn't go this far in a town to make it like a holiday. so i think these jackalopes are so cool, expecialy that they drink whiskey. That just blows my mind, but they are so real.
Posted by Dakoda Williams in fayetteville, Arkansas on Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 07:04 AM

Thsnk you for your reply!
I just read in Russian Society Magazine, article by rpofessor Spukiskamov that Jackalopes are former husbands to whom their wives have been unfaithful... They become warriors and revenge, and drink as much as they like. Do you think this information is credible?
Posted by Lena in UK on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 01:44 AM

Are there any organizations dedicated to the existence and research of the Jackalope? Please notefy me as quick as possible.
Posted by Josh Wilburn on Fri May 01, 2009 at 03:54 PM

Hello,
My name is Peter Crowder and I’m a student director, currently in the pre-production of the short film “Search for the Jackalope” and I was wondering if I could use the picture used above. It would be much appreciated.
You can contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Thank you,

Peter Crowder
Posted by Peter Crowder in Austin on Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 12:36 PM

Lovely jackalope
Mighty warrior with horns
Hatrack or slippers?
Posted by Tina in WA on Fri Jul 17, 2009 at 03:14 PM

Page 3 of 3 pages < 1 2 3

HOAX HAIKU

Son, heed this advice—
Beware the antlered rabbit.
He wants your whiskey.
(by AB)

Cold walk in Texas
Jackrabbit horns in the snow
Dead hound at my feet
(by dwd)

irresistable
horned furry creature of lore
you are real to me
(by MJM)

Ol' Douglas Herrick
Didn't tell us all he knows.
Critters smoke pot, too.
(by K8E )

Crap! Another flat!
Jackalopes are truly
The world's worst roadkill.
(by Haiku warrior)

Write a haiku about the Jackalope, and submit it in the comments. If I like it, I'll post it above.

The definition of a haiku: a short, three line poem. The first line has five syllables, the second seven, and the third five. Examples here, here, and here.