Half rabbit, half antelope—and all mischief. This week, we dig into one of America’s most enduring mythological mashups: the jackalope.

Beloved hoax? Ancient cryptid? Viral taxidermy? We trace the jackalope’s strange evolution—from drunken Wyoming prank to echoes of medieval horned hares and Mesoamerican myths. With antlers on its head, a taste for whiskey, and the uncanny ability to mimic human speech, the jackalope straddles the line between folklore and Frankenstein taxidermy.

Plus: its bizarre mating habits, ancient global cousins like the Wolpertinger and Al-Mi'raj, and the virus that might explain everything.

Strap in for antlers, absurdity, and a surprising amount of historical receipts.

Sources

Fantastically Wrong: The Disturbing Reality That Spawned the Mythical Jackalope | WIRED

The majestic jackalope and how it became a folklore legend | CBC Radio

Jackalope | Cryptid Wiki

The Story Of The Jackalope, The Legendary Rabbit With Antlers Said To Roam Wyoming

Jackalope - Wikipedia

Wolpertinger - Wikipedia

Al-Mi'raj - Wikipedia

Lepus cornutus - Wikipedia

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/