Jackalope

The Jackalope is one of America’s most beloved folklore creations, described as a rabbit with antelope-like horns sprouting from its head. Originating from the American West—particularly Wyoming—the legend likely took off when taxidermists began grafting deer antlers onto stuffed jackrabbits as novelty curios. Some stories add layers of absurdity, claiming the Jackalope can mimic human voices to confuse cowboys around campfires or only breed during lightning storms. While obviously a playful hoax, its roots may lie in sightings of rabbits infected with Shope papilloma virus, which causes horn-like growths on their heads. The Jackalope stands today more as a cultural mascot than a feared cryptid, embodying the frontier’s spirit of tall tales and good-natured exaggeration that turns ordinary wildlife into icons of myth.