The Jackalope
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/tall-tales/jackalope.html
The jackalope is an antlered species of rabbit, unfortunately
rumored to be extinct, though occasional sightings of this rare creature
continue to occur. This suggests that pockets of jackalope
populations continue to persist in its native home, the American West.
The jackalope is an aggressive species, willing to use its antlers
to fight.
Thus, it is also sometimes called the "warrior rabbit."
Jackalopes possess an uncanny ability to mimic human sounds.
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. Jackalopes
become especially vocal before thunderstorms, perhaps
because they mate only when lightning flashes (or so it
is theorized).
When chased, the jackalope will use its vocal abilities to elude
capture. For instance, when chased by people it will call out
phrases such as, "There he goes, over there," in order to throw
pursuers off its track. The best way to catch a jackalope is to lure it with
whiskey, as they have a particular fondness for this drink.
Once intoxicated, the animal becomes slower and easier to hunt.
Buy this Adorable Stuffed Plush Jackalope
Jackalope milk is particularly sought after because it is believed to
be a powerful aphrodisiac (for which reason, the jackalope is also
sometimes referred to as the 'horny rabbit'). However, it can
be incredibly dangerous to milk a jackalope, and any attempt to
do so is not advised. A peculiar feature of the milk is that it
comes from the animal already homogenized on account of the
creature'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.
Douglas Herrick, a long-time resident of Douglas, Wyoming, is
often credited with popularizing knowledge of the Jackalope.
In the 1930s Douglas and his brother Ralph began selling mounted
Jackalope heads to the public, and these became wildly popular.
Examples of their work can be found in many bars and homes
throughout the United States. Jackalope postcards also became a
popular Western souvenir. Douglas Herrick died on January
6, 2003 at the age of 82.
The jackalope is now most commonly sighted in the states of
Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. However, the jackalope
does appear to have a European cousin, which in Germany is
known as the wolperdinger. In Sweden, a related species is called
the skvader.
The Swedish Skvader
The Skvader is a species of winged hare indigenous to Sweden.
According to legend, this unusual animal was first discovered
by a hunter named Håkan Dahlmark in 1874. Eventually a stuffed
specimen of the creature was put on display in the Historical
Preservation Society in Sundsvall where it remains to this day.
Visitors report that the animal looks rather like a cross between
a hare and a wood grouse.
A statue of a skvader was also erected in a small park in Sundsvall
in 1994. Although the skvader is much beloved in Sweden, the
term itself is often used colloquially to mean "a bad
compromise."
List of Fictional Rabbits
Pookas
