Jackalopes are also known as “warrior rabbits” because they are (supposedly) fierce and aggressive creatures. They are also known to be much larger than ordinary hares, as rare as the mythological Cyclops.
On the other hand, another legend says that the milk of a female jackalope has amazing healing powers and can cure most diseases. Some versions of the story even suggest that it is a very powerful aphrodisiac.
Composed of the parts of the words “hare” and “antelope,” jackalope is a portmanteau word that describes a creature with the body of a rabbit and antelope horns (“Portmanteau” means a mixture of two different words).
The Origins of the Jackalope Legend
According to one of the most common beliefs, the origin of the legend dates back to the 19th century, when a hunter claimed to have caught “the rabbit with horns.”
Another, more common story is that of the Herrick brothers, Douglas and Ralph Herrick, two taxidermy enthusiasts from Wyoming. The Herrick brothers “invented” the jackalope, accidentally, we should add.
After a day of hunting rabbits, the Herrick brothers returned home and threw the carcasses into their taxidermy shop near some deer antlers. After seeing what a rabbit’s head looked like next to the antlers, the brothers decided to mount the antlers on a rabbit’s head.
Later, they sold the first jackalope head they created to Roy Ball, who hung it on the wall of his hotel, La Bonte, in Douglas, Wyoming. Over time, jackalopes became a tourist attraction and a symbol for Douglas. So much so that they even built a jackalope statue in the city. After it was destroyed in an accident, it was rebuilt and placed in what is now the square that bears its name.
The Douglas Chamber of Commerce has been issuing jackalope hunting licenses for a long time on the condition that hunters can only hunt jackalopes on June 31 between midnight and 2 a.m. D. Herrick is known for having created and sold more than 1,000 jackalope heads before handing them over while his brother continued the work.
Are these the only origin stories?
No, they are not. It is a well-known fact that many cultures have all kinds of mythical creatures, some of which are hybrids. Unicorns are a good example of this. Indeed, similar creatures were mentioned in other cultures long before the Herrick brothers turned them into a business venture.
A 13th-century Persian painting shows a rabbit with a horn that is probably Al-mi’raj, the mythical one-horned rabbit that lived on the legendary island of Jezîrat al-Tennyn (The Island of the Sea Serpent). You can read about Al-mi’raj and many other mythical creatures in our post below:
Related myths
Another myth that resembles a creature like a jackalope is that of the wolf, a mythical creature that has fangs and wings, as well as the head of a rabbit, the antlers of a deer, and the body of a squirrel. It is unknown whether these two mythical creatures inspired the legend of the jackalopes.
Are Jackalopes real?
Like many other mythological creatures, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that jackalopes are real. How you interpret this is up to you.
Could there have been a rabbit with horns, a jackalope-looking hybrid, in the history of this planet? It’s certainly possible. Can you track them down if you go to Douglas, Wyoming? We’re not so sure, especially not in the two hours you’re allowed to do so.
