Perhaps youâve wondered whether jackalopes are real yourself. Iâve had two people ask me in the last week.
Thereâs not a whole bunch of information about jackalopes around, but I found this nifty video on YouTube, and thatâs after watching quite a few (what is the opposite of nifty?) videos as well.
The jackalope is reputed to be a cross between a jackrabbit and antelope. Except that jackrabbits arenât rabbits (theyâre hares), and the American antelope isnât an antelope (itâs a pronghorn). Go figure.
Most jackalopes are pictured with deer antlers instead of pronghorn (antelope) antlers.
Top to bottom: Deer, Pronghorn, Caribou, Jackrabbit
Jackalopes were âdiscoveredâ in Wyoming in 1932 but a man and his brother who were mail-order taxidermists.
Whisky is rumored to be their favorite drink.
They breed during lightning flashes.
Other Jackalope sightings:
A friend from Alaska told me that in Alaska, jackalopes are called haribou. These are even more elusive than the jackalope because you canât find them on Google.
The Wolpertinger (Bavarian) â very cool. This one also has wings!
A single horned bunny in Europe (think unicorn rabbit).
The horned hare (European).
The whole myth most likely originates with a virus that causes cancerous growths on rabbits (Shope Papilloma Virus â similar to human HPV). This site has several interesting pictures. It makes me very sad to see these rabbits. :(
And then thereâs THIS (creepy) video that has something to do with a kangaroo, fangs, and no antlersâŠ
Jackalope Wives by Ursula Vernon won the 2014 Nebula Award for best Short Story. You can read it for free at Apex Magazine. Highly recommended.
Project Jackalope by Emily Ecton â fun middle-grade (8-12 years) mystery/thriller
Revenge of the Horned Bunnies by Ursula Vernon â also middle-grade, #6 in a series
NOW YOU: READ ANY STORIES WITH JACKALOPES? HAVE ANY BEEN âSEENâ IN YOUR AREA?
 Are #jackalopes real? Inquiring minds want to know. #cryptid #amwriting #myths Perhaps you've wondered whether jackalopes are real yourself. I've had two people ask me in the last week.