Jackalope: Horned Rabbit or Hare

Posted by Jill Stefko Mar 19, 2008

Jackalopes are American Southwest legends. There have been sightings of horned leporidae. The legend might have been brought to North American by German immigrants based on Raurackl, horned rabbit, of folklore. The legend might stem from horn-like growths found on the heads of rabbits infected with Shope papillomavirus, a rare disease that afflicts wild rabbits and hares.

I first learned about jackalopes in the 1980s. The critter was portrayed as Trickster, like Coyote, Raven and Crow. I remember it was mischievously running around, saying no one could catch it. It was a jack rabbit with horns fastened to its head.

While I was writing my latest article, Rabbit/Hare: Trickster-Fear Caller in the course of research, I read more about the jackalope.

In Douglas, Wyoming, according to legend, in 1920, LeRoy Ball, a hotel owner, was the first to display one.

Horned leporidaewere sighted by the pioneers of the western plains. They were described in popular hunting and fishing magazines in the early 1900's. Jackalope postcards have been available since the 1930's. Several towns offer novelty hunting licenses for these critters.

It is a scientific fact that the papillomavirus can cause horn-like growths on rabbits' and hares’ heads. From a distance, these infectedleporidae, seem to have horns. These animals are most likely responsible for the jackalope, raurackl, rasselbock, dilldapp and wolpertinger horned rabbit and hare legends and naturalists belief that horned leporidae exist.

Other related articles: Coyote, Pagan Symbol: Trickster, Crow: Mysterious Pagan Symbol and Raven, Enigmatic Pagan Symbol.